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On Friday, August 16th, 2024, the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) hosted a timely Chef’s Table meeting on the theme ‘Tourism and Taxes: Accessing the Tourism Development Act.’
Held at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian, the event brought together various stakeholders to gain insight, share ideas and explore the exciting future of Saint Lucia’s tourism industry.
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View the Chef's Table recap video: | |
Ten students receive Eileen Paul Scholarships from SLHTA’s Tourism Enhancement Fund | |
Ten deserving students have received a valuable head start on their secondary school journey through the SLHTA Tourism Enhancement Fund’s latest scholarship awards.
Established on October 11th 2021, the Eileen Paul Scholarship Fund provides financial support to secondary school students, whose parents are employed in the tourism industry. This year’s recipients were honored during a ceremony on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
| The Tourism Development Act and Accessing Incentives and Concessions | |
The Tourism Development Act, which seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework for encouraging and advancing tourism development in Saint Lucia, is in effect.
Some of the core objectives are:
-to facilitate inclusive, resilient and sustainable tourism development;
-to provide for administration of the tourism certification programme;
-to facilitate incentives for tourism investment, including, specialized support areas, additional incentives and incentives for resilience
During the SLHTA’s Chef Table meeting on Friday, August 16th the Ministry of Tourism provided a detailed report on the new Act, outlining the Tourism Certification process and the incentives and concessions available to stakeholders.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW: slhta.com/mot-chefs-table-presentation/
| Marketing/ Performance Update | |
The SLHTA and SLTA have held fruitful discussions over the past weeks on the marketing plans for the Destination. The Destination continues to record significant gains, with month-on-month growth, every month for the first half of this year. The greatest increase was noted in the month of June, when the island welcomed 38,394 visitors to its shores, a 42% increase over June 2023.
At the SLHTA's Chef Table meeting, Head of Marketing, Dexter Percil, provided a performance update, and outlined the agency's current and upcoming marketing initiatives.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW: slhta.com/slta-performance-update/
| Tourism Investment Outlook | |
During the SLHTA's Chef Table Meeting, Invest Saint Lucia presented on the exciting Tourism Investment Outlook for Saint Lucia. The presentation covers current investments as well as existing opportunities.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW: slhta.com/isl-chefs-table-presentation/
| NOTICE: World Tourism Day | Happening this Wednesday, August 21st! | |
The Caribbean Tourism Organization's first Allied Member Webinar is just around the corner! Join us on August 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. ET/AT to learn about The Modern Art of Storytelling with Figment Design, Inc. President Jeff Pankey. Register today at: https://bit.ly/Allied-Webinar-Aug-2024.
Explore more about CTO Allied Membership: https://www.onecaribbean.org/about-allied-membership/
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CHTA Hurricane Beryl Relief Auction | |
Annual Closure of the Pigeon Island National Landmark for Site Work | |
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The Saint Lucia National Trust wishes to inform its members, patrons, the general public, tour operators and other service providers, that the Pigeon Island National Landmark (PINL) will be closed from September 14th, 2024 through to September 30th, 2024.
This closure is to facilitate necessary works for improved visitor safety and experience, preservation of historic structures, and landscape maintenance and to facilitate staff training and development.
The Trust apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause and looks forward to welcoming all users back to the Landmark once works are complete.
For further information, please contact the Trust at info@slunatrust.org or call +1758 452 5005.
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Long-standing Partnership Brings 1000 Smiles: Great Shape! Inc. and Sandals Foundation Transform Lives | (Sandals Foundation)- The Sandals Foundation, in collaboration with Great Shape! Inc., recently completed the 1000 Smiles Dental Project in St. Lucia, bringing essential dental care and bright smiles to the local community. From July 19th to August 2nd, 2024, this initiative provided much-needed dental services to 993 residents of Gros Islet and the Bordelais Correctional Facility. | | | |
Sanovnik Destang joins HFTP's task force for the Hospitality Code of Digital Responsibility | |
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Sanovnik Destang, President-Elect of CHTA and Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts, has joined HFTP’s groundbreaking task force for the Hospitality Code of Digital Responsibility!
This task force, created by HFTP (Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals) in response to the industry's growing need for digital responsibility guidelines, brings together industry experts and academics to develop the code.
Destang will bring his exceptional international and Caribbean perspectives to the task force, highlighting the importance of employees, sustainability, and society. His expertise and vision will be instrumental in shaping the future of digital responsibility in hospitality.
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Best Marine Adventures & Excursions 2024! | |
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Saint Lucia is proudly nominated for the 2024 Travvy Awards in three exciting categories:
*Best Destination - Caribbean
*Best Honeymoon Destination - Caribbean
*Best Wedding Destination - Caribbean
Show your support and make your vote count! Cast your vote now at www.travvyawards.com/vote
Voting is open until September 6, 2024.
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CHTA Champions Sports Tourism in the Caribbean Following Historic Paris Olympics Success | (Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association)- The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is calling for the region to embrace sports development and sports tourism following the outstanding performance of Caribbean athletes at the recent Paris Olympic Games. | | |
Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator launches its virtual exhibition series 'DVCAI Caribbean Solos' with Saint Lucian Photographer, Kirk Elliott | (DVCAI)- Hailing from Saint Lucia, Master Photographer, Sustainable Tourism Ambassador, and National Geographic Certified Educator, Kirk Elliott was invited to explore a monographic project with Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI) and its DVCAI Photo Collective. | | | |
Public Comments on Draft St. Lucian National Standards | |
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The following Draft Standards are being proposed for adoption as Saint Lucian National Standards:
- CDCRS 80:202x Terminology and definitions for hazardous substances and products containing hazardous substances
- DCRS 81:202x Hazardous substances and products containing hazardous substances – Classification and labelling
In the process leading to the adoption of standards, the comments of stakeholders and the general public are solicited to identify and address areas of concern and to ensure that consensus on these standards is achieved. We are therefore seeking comments on the above.
Accordingly, the aforementioned standards or the one with interest to you or your organization are made available for perusal and comments from all with interest.
Where it is an identical adoption of the IEC, ISO, ASTM and CRS standards for circulation, the full texts of the standards are not available for mass circulation.
Please use the review-comment portal for your comments. To view the standards and comment online use link here.
The deadline for comments is Monday 19th October 2024.
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Enhancing Saint Lucia’s waste management strategy |  | |
(SLSWMA)- Progress has been made with respect to support for the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA). Of note is the preparation of a comprehensive 25-page document outlining analysis and recommendations for sustainable financing of waste management and recycling activities. Having received approval from the SLSWMA, the next step involves presenting this document to the technocrats of the Department of Sustainable Development.
In addition, the Department of Sustainable Development has committed to supporting the development of a Beverage Container Deposit Refund System. The Recycle OECS Project is actively involved in this effort, significantly contributing to the drafting process. The timeline for advancing the policy has been agreed upon, with the revised Policy set for the end of July 2024. This will be followed by a review and acceptance phase in August.
Stakeholder discussions are carded for September, to gather valuable feedback and further refine the policy. By October, second revised version will be finalized for Cabinet presentation by the end of the month, marking a crucial step forward in enhancing Saint Lucia’s waste management strategy.
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Jounen Kweyol host communities announced | (Folk Research Centre)- Under the direction of the Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre (FRC) in collaboration with Events Company of Saint Lucia, the most widely celebrated cultural event in Saint Lucia, Jounen Kwéyòl, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. | | | |
FarmHers Market on this Saturday | |
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Fuel up like Olympic Sprint Sensation Julien Alfred with high-quality food from the Helen’s Daughters FarmHers Market. There’s no better way to wrap up the great month of August than with a market fit for champions.
Find all your favourite things at The Pyramid in Pointe Seraphine on Saturday, August 31st from 7 am to 2 pm!
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