As the private sector voice for the Caribbean lodging and tourism industry, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has reached out to its extensive membership base to encourage and stimulate initial donations and contributions to help their fellow member country in this time of great need.

“CHTA shares the grief and gravest concern of its 1,250 Caribbean member hotels and tourism-related companies in regards to the horrific disaster in Haiti,” said Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of CHTA.

“While we may consider ourselves Antiguan, Bajan, Dominican and so on under ordinary circumstances, today we are all Caribbean as tragedies like this remind us of the importance of regional unity,” added De Marchena.  “Our prayers and support are with our Caribbean brothers and sisters in Haiti.”

Many CHTA members have already contributed via locally-organized initiatives and/or international relief agencies, and have been applauded for their strong and immediate support.

For those members who have yet to contribute or are unsure of which of the many funding and relief agencies to donate through, CHTA is recommending the Red Cross.

“We have chosen the Red Cross because it is the one international relief organization that operates year-round 24/7 across the entire world and has consistently provided assistance to nations and people during disasters and crisis for decades,” noted De Marchena.