The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association has elected Emil Lee to take over the helm of the organisation.

Lee is currently president of the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, general manager of Princess Heights Hotel and co-operator of Atlas Construction Company in St.Maarten.

He will take the role from June 2014 for two years.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Lee was elected by acclimation at CHTA Annual General Meeting which is currently taking place in Jamaica.

“The current president, Richard Doumeng, and his executive board have done a tremendous job of laying a solid foundation for CHTA moving forward,” said Lee.

“Great strides are being made in fiscal discipline, strategic planning and restructuring the CHTA.”

“I will continue to support the current strategy of using CHTA to strengthen the National Hotel Associations.

“If CHTA can function more effectively as a centralising and coordinating entity for the Caribbean, I believe we can access the vast untapped potential of the Caribbean hospitality industry.”

Lee currently serves as first vice president of CHTA and has served as president of the SHTA since 2001, making him one of the longest standing presidents of a NHA in the Caribbean.

At SHTA he is responsible for guiding the activities of the National Hotel Association which includes advocacy, marketing, product improvement and private sector partnering with government projects.