CHIEF 2023 Schedule
Wednesday, November 29th
11:00am – 6:00pm | Registration |
11:00am – 4:00pm | Exchange Hub/Trade Show Setup |
6:00pm – 8:00pm | Welcome Reception at Exchange Hub/Trade Show |
Thursday, November 30th
8:30am – 9:00am |
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Horizons of Opportunity – Charting a Course for the Future of Caribbean Tourism Room: International Ballroom 1-2 Speakers:
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9:10 – 10:10am |
Keynote Panel: Embarking on a New Journey into the Future of Caribbean Tourism Room: International Ballroom 1-2 Moderator: Bevan Springer, President, Marketplace Excellence Speakers:
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10:10am – 10:25am | Coffee Break at Exchange Hub |
10:30am – 11:30am |
General Session: Unlocking AI’s Tourism Potential: Practical Insights and Applications A deep dive focused on practical uses of AI in marketing, operations, revenue management, back office and front of the house. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Jeff Pankey, President, Figment Design Speakers:
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11:40am – 12:40pm |
General Session: Future-Proofing the Hotel Industry: Innovating for the Global Traveler Explore the future of hotel technology and its impact on the global traveler experience. From futuristic hotel rooms to innovative guest services, discover how tech future-proofing can elevate your hospitality offerings. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Bill Clegg, CHA, Regional Director of Development, Mid-Atlantic US and Caribbean Regions, BWH Hotels and Fifth Vice President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Speaker:
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12:40pm – 1:50pm | Lunch at Exchange Hub |
2:00pm – 3:00pm |
General Session: Maximizing Hotel Revenue: Direct Booking Essentials Unlock the keys to hotel revenue optimization in this insightful session. We’ll provide highlights from the Direct Booking Summit and outline the top strategies hoteliers must prioritize in the coming years to maximize revenue. Join us for a condensed, power-packed guide to direct booking success. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Bill Clegg, CHA, Regional Director of Development, Mid-Atlantic US and Caribbean Regions, BWH Hotels and Fifth Vice President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Speakers: Executive Director, Bay Gardens Resorts and First Vice President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
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3:10pm – 4:10pm |
General Session: Building the Future Workforce: Strategies for Attracting, Engaging and Retaining Top-Tier Tourism Professionals Today’s workforce is more diverse and complex than ever, with a wide range of expectations and a strong desire for work-life balance. The evolving workplace must adapt to meet the needs of both employees and employers. Join us for insights on cultivating a healthy work environment that promotes teamwork, balance, and productivity, ultimately ensuring guest satisfaction. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO & Director General, CHTA Speakers:
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4:10pm – 4:25pm | Coffee Break at Exchange Hub |
4:30pm – 5:30pm |
General Session: Building Blocks to Transition in the New Global Tourism Environment As the world faces rapid changes in climate and its corresponding impacts, so too is the tourism landscape changing. ‘Responsible tourism’ is no longer a tagline, but reflects a growing new consciousness by both travelers and tourism-related businesses. Successful companies recognize this and are adapting. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Frank Comito, Special Advisor and Former CEO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Speakers:
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5:40pm – 6:40pm |
General Session: Cultivating Caribbean Culture: The Business of Festival Tourism Explore how celebrating culture through festivals and heritage can elevate guest experiences and drive business growth in this engaging session. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Sanovnik Destang, Executive Director, Bay Gardens Resorts and First Vice President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Speakers:
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Evening on Own/Exchange Hub tear down |
Friday, December 1st
8:30am – 9:15am |
Concurrent Session 1: Nurturing Your Workforce: Building a Culture of Wellness Explore best practices for people development with a focus on health and wellness. Learn how to create and maintain a workforce that is well-supported and flourishing. Room: Continental Ballroom Moderator: Stacy Cox, CEO, Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association Speaker:
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8:30am – 9:15am |
Concurrent Session 2: Cracking the Digital Code: Boosting ROI through Online Marketing Channels Explore essential digital marketing insights and discover the critical actions your team should take to maximize ROI. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Sylvia Scholey, President & Co-Founder, Oceanid Hospitality Group Speakers:
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9:25am – 10:10am |
Concurrent Session 3: Building a TikTok Community for Your Hotel, Resort, or Attraction Explore effective strategies to create and nurture a TikTok community for your hotel, resort, or tourism business, fostering engagement and connecting with a diverse audience. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Speakers:
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9:25am – 10:10am |
Concurrent Session 4: The Purchasing Managers Guide for Hotel & Attraction Suppliers Join your allied members peers to exchange insights on essential considerations when working with hotel and attraction suppliers such as planning cycles, cost parameters, quality standards, and delivery expectations. Elevate your supplier relationships with practical knowledge and strategic understanding in this informative discussion. Room: Continental Ballroom Speakers:
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10:20am – 11:05am |
Concurrent Session 5: Stopping Waste and Inefficiencies: Data-Driven Decisions to Guide Your Energy and Water Use Electricity and water can represent over 15 percent of your operating costs. How are you measuring energy and water consumption? How does your usage stand up against the industry’s best practices? Beyond changing light bulbs, installing timers and water usage controls, what other steps and cost-effective practices can you put in place to reduce costs and demonstrate your commitment as a good steward of the environment. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Frank Comito, Special Advisor and Former CEO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Speaker:
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10:20am – 11:05am |
Concurrent Session 6: Next Gen Ownership: Financing and Development Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs Join us for an insightful session on shepherding the next generation of entrepreneurs. Discover the importance of ideation, governance, financing and shepherding opportunities that empower young visionaries to achieve ownership and success in the tourism business. Room: Continental Ballroom Moderator: Snjezana Andrews, CEO, Clearwater Capital Speakers:
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11:15am – 12:15pm |
General Session 7: Serving Up Success: Cultivating Future Hospitality Leaders Discover the key skills and knowledge today’s hospitality employees need to become future industry leaders. This presentation offers actionable insights on upskilling, ensuring your team is prepared to excel in an evolving industry. Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Moderator: Paul Collymore, Chief Executive Officer, The Landings Resort & Spa Speakers:
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12:20pm – 2:00pm |
Awards Lunch Room: International Ballroom 1 – 2 Presentation of CHIEF Awards and Special Presentation to the 2019 CHTA Young Leaders Class |
Departures |
*The program features confirmed speakers. Please revisit this page for updates on additional speakers.