The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association is deepening its partnership and outreach to hoteliers and tourism partners in the Dominican Republic.

As part of a new agreement, a canter of tourism information planned by the National Association of Hotels & Restaurants in the Dominican Republic, will share with CHTA and its members research on tourism’s broad economic impact and linkages to various industries and areas of economic activity in the country.

The memorandum between the two bodies - signed during CHTA’s board meeting in Miami - also allows ASONAHORES to access reports from CHTA’s data partners, including STR, MasterCard, KPMG, ADARA, Travelzoo, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, the American Resort Development Association and the World Travel & Tourism Council.

CHTA will arrange in-country workshops and presentations for ASONAHORES’ members to review data and reports and to provide them with greater insight and tools useful for destination, organisation and property planning.

The two organisations agreed such information sharing will strengthen ASONAHORES’ advocacy efforts with both the Dominican government and the business community.

In addition, CHTA will engage the group in discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank as the institution reviews extending the Caribbean Hotels Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Action program to member hotels.

CHENACT has compiled detailed investment-grade audits in more than 150 hotels.

In addition, demonstration projects were conducted with tools and guides to support greater efficiencies.

As a result, participating hotels are realising significant savings in electricity and water costs.

CHTA has discussed with the IDB the feasibility of conducting a third phase of CHENACT with the Dominican Republic being one of the beneficiary countries.

Recognising the potential for the region to further develop health and medical tourism, CHTA and ASONAHORES agreed to develop a strategy for the development of medical tourism in the region and to recognise the desire of the Dominican Republic to play a leadership role in this rapidly growing sector.

In addition to the priority areas of focus, the two organisations will continue to explore other opportunities for collaboration, including sustainable tourism, tourism investment promotion, regional tourism marketing, capacity building of local destination marketing organisations, regional air connectivity, cruise tourism and human resource development.