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Resturctures; Reiterates Commitment to Ongoing Environmental Programs |
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (June 24, 2003) - Following an extensive restructuring exercise involving an overview of its operating systems, programs and services, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), environmental arm of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), is pleased to announce a new five-year Organizational Business Plan that seeks to return the organization to its core mission and mandate, with a focus on the development of quality services and programs. "CAST's new programs and services will center on the driving philosophy of creating 'Positive Impact!' by promoting environmental best practices and low impact tourism," explained CAST Chairman Royston Hopkin, CMG. "The first two components of 'Positive Impact!' will be the Hotel Environmental Leadership & Performance (HELP) and Friends of CAST. As a first step, the former membership structure will be phased out to allow CAST to evolve into a full service organization by April 2004. "This means that former CAST members, hotels and other tourism establishments can access CAST services and products under a structured program that includes promotion and recognition of superior or improved environmental performance," elaborated newly-appointed CAST Director Deirdre Shurland. "Within this framework, CHA member hotels will have priority access to CAST services," she added. HOTEL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP & PERFORMANCE
(HELP)
"Once the HELP program is implemented, it is envisaged that there will be a need for development of the requisite skills of hotel environmental staff to ensure the sustainability of program initiatives and vibrancy of green certification schemes," said Royston Hopkin CMG. "With this in mind, CAST will seek to develop and implement personnel certification programs for professional staff." This is expected to be unveiled in early 2004. FRIENDS OF CAST
In addition, a Positive Impact Fund will be introduced in late 2003. This Fund will involve a number of other contributory systems managed by CHA's Caribbean Hotel Foundation and allocated to specific environmental projects in various Caribbean countries. The national hotel associations that make up the CHA federation would be major beneficiaries, involved in the selection and management of in-country environmental projects funded under this the Fund. CAST Reiterates Commitment to Ongoing Environmental Programs in the Region With the launch of the ambitious new 'Positive Impact!" theme and work plan, the Chairman of CAST, Royston Hopkin CMG, reiterated CAST's commitment to a range of longstanding and successful environmental programs in the region. "We do not seek to drop everything in order to reinvent the wheel. 'Positive Impact!' presents a more focused approach to promoting the best sustainable tourism practices in the region. It is designed to enhance the range of important programs CAST is already involved with and that are making a significant contribution to our mission," he declared. "CAST will continue to play a leadership role in documenting and disseminating the lessons learned under the various regional certification and accreditation initiatives and making these available to the industry. These include: the Green Globe 21, Quality Tourism for the Caribbean (QTC), and the Blue Flag certification schemes, as well as other projects such as Caribbean Hotel Environmental Management Initiative (CHEMI) and the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) environmental youth camp.
CAST, a subsidiary of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), was chartered in 1997 to undertake collaborative environmental efforts within the hotel industry, promote effective management of natural resources and to develop expertise in sustainable tourism, assisting hotel and tourism operations in the Caribbean to achieve environmentally responsible operations. CAST's mission is to lead in the sustainable management of Caribbean resources by catalyzing the tourism and business communities and working with multi-sectorial partners to ensure social responsibility and environmental care for the benefit of its people and visitors. |
Contact:
CAST
Deirdre Shurland 1000 Ponce de León Ave., 5th Floor San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 / T 787.725.9139 E: [email protected] Lorraine J. Ortiz-Valcárcel
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