Contacts : For CHA - Lorraine Ortiz-Valcárcel, [EMAIL PROTECTED] /
For CTO - Johnson Johnrose, [EMAIL PROTECTED] A NEW GENERATION OF TOURISM REPORTING FLOURISHES IN REGION Last call for entries for the 2007 Caribbean Tourism Media Awards SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (April 19, 2007) - The impact of socially-responsible tourism development in the reemergence of the small community of Otrobanda, a formerly troubled and impoverished city district in Curaçao; a contentious legislation to reduce the National Parks and Protected Areas in order to give way to a tourism development proposed for the Bayahibe area in the Dominican Republic; Jamaica's tourism following "911." Such diverse issues are just three examples of outstanding investigative tourism reporting in the Caribbean that have been honored since 2002 with the annual "Caribbean Tourism Media Awards of Excellence" presented by the Caribbean Hotel Association, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, and American Express. Journalists have until April 30th, to submit their stories in the following categories: print, television, radio, and internet outlets in the Caribbean. A fifth award category will recognize a feature article that promotes intra-Caribbean travel. The 2007 winners will join the ranks of journalists whose work contribute to a new standard in tourism reporting in the Caribbean. They will be announced during the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference, to be held June 17-19, 2007, in Miami, Florida. A Tradition of Excellence The "Caribbean Tourism Media Awards" was created to raise regional awareness about the impact of tourism, by recognizing and fostering the development of Caribbean media professionals with a broader understanding of the breadth and depth of Caribbean tourism and its links to society, the economy, and the environment. Previous recipients of the Caribbean Tourism Media Awards are: Bevan Springer, Barbados; Hans Vader, Curaçao; Yaniris Felipe and Arelis Peña Brito, Dominican Republic; Patricia Clarke and Janet Silvera, Jamaica; Norma Anaya, Mexico; Evelyn Guadalupe-Fajardo, Puerto Rico; Marvin Hokstam, Sint Maarten; Lennox Grant and Mark Meredith, Trinidad; Sophia Thomas, Turks & Caicos; Indiana Monteverde, Venezuela; and London-based Caribbean journalist Orin Gordon. Guidelines All submissions must have been published or transmitted between April 1, 2006 and April 15, 2007, on issues such as community-based tourism; tourism and the environment; sustainable tourism development; best practices; social, economic, and development issues; travel stories that promote Caribbean destinations and/or hotels. Submissions must be closely related to tourism to be considered. Entries will be evaluated on their potential to capture the interest of a wide audience using the following criteria as guidelines: originality of the subject; quality of the investigation / research; quality of treatment; creativity in writing and presentation; ability to relate tourism to social, economic, and/or environmental issues; potential impact on the public and policy makers. One winner from each category - print, radio, TV, internet, and intra-Caribbean travel - will receive a commemorative award and US$500.00. In addition, they will be invited to take part in press trips to CHA's Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference (CHTC), to be held June 17-19, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Miami, in Florida, and to CTO's Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC), scheduled for October 19-24, 2007, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 2007 Caribbean Tourism Writer of the Year will be selected either from among the five category winners or another individual who has shown an outstanding body of work during the year, and will receive a cash award of US$2,000.00. Entries may be submitted in English, Spanish or French, accompanied by the application form. If submission is in a language other than English, journalists must provide a translation in English, or sign the waiver for translation on the application form. Written submissions must bear the journalist's byline. Entries can be sent by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED], by fax to 787-725-9108, or by regular mail to the Caribbean Hotel Association, 2007 Tourism Media Awards, 1000 Ponce de León Avenue, 5th Floor, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907. Entries must be received by Monday, April 30, 2007. The application form can be downloaded at: http://www.caribbeanhotels.org/mediaawardform2007.pdf ### Caribbean Hotel Association - www.caribbeanhotelassociation.com <http://www.caribbeanhotelassociation.com/> . The Caribbean Hotel Association is dedicated to excellence in hospitality, leadership in marketing, and sustainable growth in tourism, to the benefit of its membership and that of the wider Caribbean community. It aims to be a regional forum that will advance the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry. The members of CHA represent the entire spectrum of hospitality industry's private sector, from 835 member hotels representing some 127,000 hotel rooms in 36 national hotel associations, to 520 allied members including airline executives, tour operators, travel agents, trade and consumer press, hotel and restaurant suppliers, and others. Caribbean Tourism Organization - www.onecaribbean.org <http://www.onecaribbean.org/> . The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) was established in 1989 as a merger of the Caribbean Tourism Association (founded in 1951) and the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre (founded in 1974). It is an international development agency functioning under Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Barbados, where its headquarters is located. Is also is a marketing operation in the tourism generating markets. CTO's responsibilities are region-wide and embrace both public and private sector members. CTO is made up of 33 Governments and 24 private sector organizations. American Express - www.americanexpress.com <http://www.americanexpress.com/> . The American Express company is a diversified travel and financial services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking. Lorraine J. Ortiz-Valcárcel Communications Director Caribbean Hotel Association 1000 Ponce de León Ave., 5th Floor San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 T + 1 787 725.9139 x244 F + 1 787 725.9108 E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> W: www.caribbeanhotelassociation.com <http://www.caribbeanhotelassociation.com> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
