Caribbean a Safe Haven in Tough Times

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Bevan Springer 201 861-2056
              bevdread@msn.com
               
CARIBBEAN A SAFE HAVEN IN TOUGH TIMES
 
MIAMI (March 3, 2003) – With war threatening in the Middle East, booking a 
vacation in the Caribbean is the best decision travelers can make for 
immediate relief from the stress. "Our life really needs the Caribbean,” said 
Alex Sanguinetti the new Director General of the Caribbean Hotel Association. 
 “The Caribbean is politically stable, safe, close to North America and is a 
more strategic choice for those who want to spend quality time with their 
loved ones.” 
 
He called on industry officials to join regional tourism efforts to position 
the Caribbean as a preferred, peaceful haven. “North Americans still consider 
travel an essential part of their lifestyle. So despite concerns about 
international travel, now is the time to hit the pavement and aggressively 
pursue business.”
 
A senior representative of the Caribbean Hotel Association Charitable Trust 
(CHACT), Sanguinetti believes the new Life Needs the Caribbean regional 
marketing campaign is helping member destinations through the difficult 
market conditions. “Our marketing and advertising efforts are stimulating 
demand in a tough market. But we'll need all hands on deck to make it through 
the winter season,” he said.
 
Last fall, CHACT launched the US$16 million campaign to market and promote 
the Caribbean as a single destination. The Trust, a public/private sector 
alliance, united major hotel chains, airlines and credit card companies with 
the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, CARICOM and non-CARICOM nations for the 
extensive US television campaign. The second phase of this TV campaign has 
just been completed.
 
Eighteen destinations participate in CHACT's campaign: Antigua and Barbuda, 
Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, 
Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent 
and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and the United 
States Virgin Islands. 

To book the Caribbean, call 1-888-CARIBBEAN or visit www.gocaribbean.com 
where you will find over 350 hotels, offering more than 75,000 rooms, 
available for bookings.
 
Travel agents in North America can earn website commissions. Toll-free 
customer support for agents is available at 1-888-724-6413.

For further information, contact CHACT Program Director Chris Sharpless Jr. 
at 305 443-3040 or csharpless@chahotels.com .
 
ENDS