| Over US$100K in Prizes to Advance Caribbean Hospitality Career Development |
| MIAMI – The annual Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHTA) Education Foundation Caribbean Travel Auction launches today (October 23, 2021) on National Make a Difference Day. This year’s fundraiser includes more than US$100,000 in prizes from over 30 Caribbean hotels and resorts with proceeds aimed at changing Caribbean hospitality professionals’ lives and careers. Auction winners will receive spectacular Caribbean vacations, ranging from luxury resorts to one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and ecolodges. “Despite a challenging 18 months, our hotels have generously donated to our 2021 Travel Auction to provide us with an amazing array of experiences from all over the Caribbean,” said Karolin Troubetzkoy, the Chair of CHTAEF. “This fundraiser, combined with our new raffles and the support of our strategic partners, helps fund the programs that make a difference in the lives of the region’s tourism professionals.” The fundraiser enables the CHTA Education Foundation to develop and enhance programs to support professional development at all levels of the career spectrum. Proceeds from the Foundation’s fundraisers provide scholarships to the next generation of hospitality professionals. Past recipients have gone on to study at some of the most prestigious institutions around the globe, including Cornell University, The Culinary Institute of America, Florida International University, Johnson & Wales University, Les Roches, and the University of the West Indies. Additionally, the Foundation continues to develop programs that support the professional development of current industry personnel. These include on-island training courses, which focus on operational and customer service training to energize and empower staff in real-time. The courses have reached more than 900 staff members in nearly a dozen destinations since 2019. Last month, CHTAEF partnered with internationally recognized Les Roches to offer a new advancement initiative, the Caribbean Professional Development Program. This program provides participants with the knowledge, tools, and credentials to advance into General Manager positions within two to three years. The first class includes about 25 professionals from more than a dozen destinations across the region. For more than three decades, the annual CHTA Education Foundation Travel Auction has helped transform the lives and careers of Caribbean hospitality professionals, supported the Caribbean’s most critical industry, and provided beautiful escapes for auction winners. The 2021 Auction runs from October 23, 2021, to November 16, 2021. To more details and to participate, visit https://one.bidpal.net/2021travelauction. About CHTA Education Foundation CHTAEF was established in 1986 as an independent nonprofit offering tax-exempt status for donations. As part of its mission, CHTAEF provides people throughout the Caribbean region with an awareness of the varied career opportunities in the industry, as well as technical and professional development through scholarships, special assistance initiatives and other training programs. The Education Foundation has awarded more than US$2 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry. CHTAEF volunteer trustees administer one of the largest scholarship programs available in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry. Funds for these scholarships and grants are generated from corporate sponsorships, benefit auctions and special events. For more information, visit chtaef.com or email foundation@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. |
