The president of the Caribbean Hotel Association yesterday urged Caribbean governments to reduce red tape for hotel developers, saying the region could not afford to be complacent.

Berthia Parle, speaking at the opening of the tenth annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment conference at the Fairmont Southampton, told more than 300 delegates that developers had choices outside of the Caribbean.

Ms Parle welcomed the delegates to Bermuda, saying it was a home away from home and spoke fondly of her time working on the Island at Stonington Beach Hotel.

Ms Parle, who has been named one of the most powerful people in the region twice by Travel Agent Magazine, called on governments to stamp out the red tape involved in granting approval for hotel developments, saying: ?They need to get their act together. Time is money and there are several other choices for developers around the world.?

She added that the industry needed to constantly evolve: ?We cannot continue to do the same things today that we did yesterday. We must open our minds to new and innovative ideas.?

More than 300 representatives from top international hotel chains, investors, government officials and other interested parties are on the Island to discuss the state of investment in the tourism industry.

Premier Alex Scott opened the conference and said Bermuda?s tourism industry had been revitalised thanks to the Island?s ?progressive and visionary? Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ewart Brown.

He added that the partnership between investors and developers was critical. He welcomed the conference members and said they had arrived at an important time in the Bermuda tourism industry.

He said Bermuda had recommitted itself to the industry and was busy improving the hotels, service and activities on the Island.