The Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CAF), a creation of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), announced last week that $85,000 had been raised at CHA’s annual industry conference in Miami through its auction and golf tournament.
Members of the Bahamas Hotel Association contributed to the huge success of this year’s auction by contributing a record number of prizes for the fundraiser.
“We are extremely pleased and grateful to our members for their tremendous support this year. The money raised goes directly into the CHF scholarship fund, providing Bahamians and others through the Caribbean region with assistance in advancing their careers in tourism and hospitality” stated BHA President Earle Bethell.
The fund presently supports a college scholarship for one Bahamian. This year’s recipient is expected to be announced shortly. “With the record outpouring of support from our hotel and allied members to last week’s fundraiser and our pledge for continued annual support we hope to add several additional scholarships for Bahamians early next year during the 2006 application process” according to the BHA President.
BHA members supporting the scholarship fund at last week’s fundraiser included: Atlantis, Best Western Castaway’s Resort, Bluff House Beach Club, the British Colonial Hilton, Club Land ‘Or, Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Four Seasons, Gray Cliff Hotel & Restaurant, Flamingo Bay Marina & Yacht Club, Green Turtle Cay Club, Old Bahama Bay, Pelican Bay Hotel & Suites, Radisson Cable Beach Resort, Westin & Sheraton @ Our Lucaya, Smith Orloff & Associates, and Continental Connection Airline.
“We want to express our appreciation to all those who supported the scholarship program and offer a special thank you to Continental Connection Airline for complementing every single hotel accommodation offer with air travel. This increased the value to each of our auction packages and helped make a big difference” stated Mr. Bethell.
The Bahamas has had a number of scholarship recipients since the program started in 1988. The program supports academic scholarships as well as programs leading to certification and professional development. Some of BHA’s hotel members have had existing employees as recipients of professional development scholarships while others have hired student scholarship recipients who have graduated from some of the world’s finest tourism and hospitality programs.
