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INCREASING
VISITOR SPENDING – A MATTER OF CHOICE |
NEW YORK (September 27, 2007) – Choice Hotels, one of
the most successful lodging franchisors in the world, says
it expects robust growth to produce greater economic
benefits in the Caribbean.
Caroline Racine, Director of Caribbean Franchise
Development for Choice Hotels, said by catering to travelers
who don't want to spend all of their discretionary income on
lodging, "we are providing travelers to the Caribbean a
mid-scale lodging experience, allowing them to focus their
time and money enjoying what the islands have to
offer," said Racine, who was in New York last week to attend
Counterpart International’s 2007 World Leadership Awards.
 |
| From left: Caroline
Racine of Choice Hotels; World Leadership Award
recipient Senator Allen Chastanet, St. Lucia's
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation; Tony
Bowen of Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort &
Spa in St. Lucia; and Hugh Riley of the
Caribbean Tourism Organization at last week's
World Leadership Awards. Photo by Margot Jordan. |
The Haitian-American executive, who recently
assumed responsibility for increasing brand awareness and
distribution of Choice's 10 brands throughout the Caribbean,
reported strong business growth, especially in Puerto Rico
where three additional properties are slated to open this
year.
"Our main priority for the next six months is to continue to
forge relationships with existing hoteliers and
developers interested in our brand offering. Our momentum is
strong and we will continue to aggressively grow our
presence throughout the region as there is a need
for select-service branded hotel options in the Caribbean,"
she continued. |
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Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International,
congratulated Choice for not only selecting Racine, an
accomplished Caribbean-American professional, to lead its
regional charge, but also for the franchisor's efforts to
arrest the leakage of tourism revenues. "Tourism is the
major driver of the Caribbean economy and they have made the
right choice to develop an affordable product which allows
visitors to revitalise towns and communities with their
cash," said LeLaulu, who describes tourism as "the largest
voluntary transfer of cash from the rich to the poor – the
'haves' to the 'have nots' – in history."
As the world marks World Tourism Day on September 27, which
this year celebrates women's achievements in the tourism
sector and stimulates continuous action in support of the
United Nations Third Millennium Development Goal: Promoting
Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, he saluted Caroline
Racine and the legions of women who are leading the
Caribbean's tourism charge.
Choice Hotels International franchises over 5,300 hotels,
representing over 430,000 rooms, in the United States and 40
other countries and territories. Their brands include
Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality,
Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites
and Suburban Extended Stay Hotels.
Counterpart International, founded in 1965, gives people a
voice in their own future through smart partnerships,
offering options and access to tools for sustained
social, economic and environmental development. Operating on
five continents, Counterpart is supported by the generosity
of its corporate and individual donors, foundations, host
countries, multilateral institutions and several U.S.
government agencies.
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