The Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) elected its board of directors for 2012 to 2013. CSHAE executives also announced a strategic plan for the region’s hotel associations, and agreed to renew financial support for the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation’s (CHTAEF) Haiti Relief Fund, which provides training programs to help rebuild Haiti’s tourism talent base following the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake.

Lisa Hamilton, president of the United States Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association, was elected CSHAE’s president, succeeding Frank Comito, executive vice president of the Bahamas Hotel Association, who held the position since 2009. Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, executive director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, was elected vice president, while Neil Forrester, general manager of the Antigua Hotels & Tourism Association, was re-elected as treasurer. Noorani Azeez of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association was elected secretary.

Other newly elected board members include Frank Comito, executive vice president, Bahamas Hotel Association; Pancy Cross, executive director, Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association; Clarisa Jimenez, president and CEO, Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association; Louanna Chai-Alves, executive director, Trinidad Hotels, Restaurant and Tourism Association; Valya Pantophlet, project manager, Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association and James Hepple, president and CEO, Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association.

CHSAE also presented a check to CHTAEF in the amount of $2,000 towards the Haiti Fund. The donation follows an earlier CHASE contribution of $3,000 to the Haiti Fund. The CHTAEF has been in Port au Prince since 2010, delivering education and skills training to hotel school students.