Last week's Annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment conference held at the Southampton Princess is already showing feasible results with Monday's announcement of a signed agreement between the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The three-year agreement to work together to exchange relevant economic data and research as well as promote the cause of travel and tourism was signed during the conference by WTTC president Jean Claude Baumgarten and CHA director general/CEO Alec Sanguinetti.

"A stronger alliance between CHA and WTTC will most certainly benefit the cause of travel and tourism to which each is dedicated," said Mr. Baumgarten.

A working committee to formulate specific proposals for joint CHA/WTTC action will be formed as part of the agreement. One area of particular interest is industry research in the Caribbean.

"WTTC has an impressive track record conducting reasearch to raise awareness of the powerful impact that travel and tourism has on employment and the economy," said Mr. Sanguinetti.

"CHA and the national hotel associations across the region are looking forward to working with WTTC to ensure that the impact of travel and tourism is understood and reflected in policy-making.

"CHA seeks to implement Tourism Satellite Accounts at national and regional levels, to gather and disseminate objective, exhaustive data, with case studies that reflect good practice and the benefits of the Caribbean travel and tourism industry."