Meeting News - September 21, 2009 - (Page 25)

CVB Showcase Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Company trinidad As the thriving island nation of Trinidad and Tobago unveils itself as a world-class business destination for meetings and incentive groups, Trinidad & Tobago’s Tourism Development Company (TDC) Convention Bureau branch is taking the lead. Trinidad has undertaken a major infrastructure development project to bring meeting space, dining, and recreational opportunities to the bustling Port of Spain waterfront, while Tobago makes a perfect escape for corporate retreats and incentives or for pre- and post- meeting travel. To help planners navigate their way through the treasures of the island, The TDC offers supplier sourcing services, free collateral materials, and step-bystep assistance. MEETING FACILITIES The government is beginning to see the fruits of its transformation of Trinidad’s Port of Spain waterfront, an expansive boardwalk and chic shopping and dining district designed with meeting groups and leisure travelers in mind. The Hyatt Regency Trinidad opened there earlier this year, featuring 43,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. It’s already one of the Caribbean’s signature meeting places, hosting important events such as the Caribbean Hotel Association’s Investment Conference last spring. The Summit of the Americas took place in April 2009, and was attended by presidents of 34 countries; the FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show took place in November 2008; and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was recently held. Also, The Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre recently introduced an additional 40,000 square feet of meeting rooms and four presidential suites. ACCOMMODATIONS Trinidad & Tobago’s hotel properties are keen to share island culture and bounty with their guests—through cuisine choices, displaying local artwork, and gracious staff members. The new 428-room Hyatt Regency Trinidad features a full-service spa and modern design, and other meetings properties include the 165-room Carlton Savannah SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Credits: www.gotrinidadandtobago.com and the new 83-room Holiday Inn Express. The 400-room Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre recently updated its bedding, furniture, and bathrooms, and unveiled the full-service Sanctuary Day Spa. The Cascadia Hotel also undertook significant upgrades. Other group-friendly properties include the elegant 135-room Coco Reef in Tobago. Personal indulgences and high-tech amenities are easy to find in properties both large and small throughout T&T, and intimate boutique properties in Trinidad are complemented by Tobago’s eco-resorts and elegant villas. ATTRACTIONS The most famous of Trinidad & Tobago’s many cultural festivals is the annual Carnival, a threeday bacchanal that shows off the creative depth and splendor of T&T. Taste T&T hits the palate every year in late May, and Tobago celebrates its Heritage Festival in July with two weeks of performances and events. October brings the traditional Steel Pan and Jazz Festival in Trinidad, while Tobago’s annual Jazz Festival attracts names like Whitney Houston, Shakira, and Rod Stewart. T&T offers groups access to local talent that can recreate festivities for theme events or daylong parties. Trinidad’s capital city offers a distinctive urban setting, and is exciting in its nightlife, dining, and theater opportunities. Its interior offers rain forest hiking and mountain biking excursions, which are popular teambuilding experiences, as are visits to the Gasparee Caves, bird watching at the Asa Wright Nature Centre and Caroni Bird Sanctuary, or simply relaxing at the dramatic Maracas Beach. Tobago, meanwhile, has plenty of sun and sea and stunning coral reefs for snorkeling and diving lovers. This pristine island offers visitors a chance to see exotic wildlife up close. GETTING THERE Piarco International Airport is 30 minutes away from Trinidad’s capital city of Port of Spain, and Tobago is just a 15-minute flight from its sister island. CONTACT Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Company Trinidad, West Indies Jacqueline Hewitt Vice President of Sales (212) 529-8484 jhewitt@mcintl.com www.gotrinidadandtobago.com The center of southern Caribbean meetings AT A GLANCE Largest Meetings Hotel: Hyatt Regency Trinidad Group Hotels: Trinidad, 21; Tobago, eight Total Guest Rooms: 3,395 September 21, 2009 25 http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - September 21, 2009

Meeting News - September 21, 2009

Contents
Pricing Forecast
Newsmaker
Meetings Spotlight
Event Profile

Meeting News - September 21, 2009

Meeting News - September 21, 2009 -

Meeting News - September 21, 2009

(Page Cover1)
Meeting News - September 21, 2009 -

Meeting News - September 21, 2009