The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, representing 32 National Hotel Associations across the region, has appointed hospitality and tourism industry veteran Frank Comito as the new chief executive and director general. 

The new was announced as the annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Caribbean Travel Marketplace gets underway in Puerto Rico.

Comito will assume the post March 9th, 2015.

As chief executive, Comito will work to raise CHTA’s profile as the leader for the Caribbean hospitality industry and along with the CHTA Executive Committee and board of directors he will develop a strategic plan for the association that serves the needs of its entire membership comprised of over 600 hotels and 300 allied members. 

Comito replaces Jeff Vasser who stepped down as at the end of December 2014.

“Frank Comito brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to CHTA, most recently as executive vice president of the Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association and other tourism-related organisations,” said Emil Lee, president of CHTA.

“Besides contributing towards the development of the Bahamas’ hotel and tourism industries he helped develop the landscape for individual Caribbean hotel associations during his volunteer presidency of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives, the regional association for our 32-member national hotel associations. 

“We are confident that CHTA will continue to grow and gain influence as the voice for the Caribbean hospitality industry under Frank’s leadership.”

Comito most recently served as executive vice president of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association, a position he held for over ten years, and was responsible for guiding and managing the organisation’s range of activities in advocacy, business development, workforce improvement and organizational development. 

Comito brings to his new role with CHTA over 30 years of experience in economic development, organisation management, government affairs,  project management, workforce development, research and analysis, and providing business and investor support in the Bahamas,  US Virgin Islands, United States and the Caribbean.

Comito currently serves as an officer and member of the board of directors for the Downtown Nassau Partnership where he has been a leader and key contributor since 1998. 

He has championed revitalization efforts of historic downtown Nassau including guiding public and private sector stakeholder work, master planning, implementing product improvements, development of public policies, fundraising and stakeholder engagement.