Two prominent CHA, Caribbean Hotel Association officials Vanessa Ledesma and Loraine Ortiz visited the island for a number of days in preparation for the upcoming Caribbean Marketplace, a premier tourism event, the biggest travel fair of its kind, taking place in Aruba, January 14th to 16th, 2007.

Ledesma, Director of Meetings and Ortiz, Director of Public Relations report this will be the 28th edition of the marketplace, expected to attract 2000 delegates, among them Caribbean hoteliers and tour operators from around the globe.

The event owned and managed by the CHA will be offered in conjunction with AHATA, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, ATA, the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism.

The host committee members whose responsibility it is to organize the event, are hard at work to ensure the total success of the mega-affair.

Under the leadership of chairperson Ed Malone, AHATA, and Vice Chairperson Jerusha Rasmijn, ATA, committees have been set up to handle the complex and diverse program.

“We see this as a destination event,” said Malone, “an opportunity to showcase Aruba and impact the future development of the island’s tourist product.”

“Aruba,” he continues, “has suffered a big public relations blow in 2006; we lived through the tragedy and are now positioned to relaunch Aruba’s image and reputation besides its fine hotels. This is a great way of showing our island off,” he added, ”from restaurants to attractions and above all, let the world experience the level of hospitality we offer, and have always been known for.”

The CHA marketplace comes at the heels of the GOGO Leaning Conference in October which will attract 600 premier travel agents from the GoGo network which is a major supplier from North American to the island.