OBMI Joins Key Caribbean Leaders to Improve Energy Efficiencies in Hospitality
Miami, FL, October 11, 2016 --(PR.com)-- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Caribbean Clean Energy Program (CARCEP) yesterday signed a collaboration agreement with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in a landmark move to bolster energy efficiency in the Caribbean's hotel sector, the largest electricity consumer sector in the region. At the signing were key energy efficiency experts, including Denaye Hinds, OBMI’s Director of Sustainability.
The agreement, which was signed during the official ceremony of the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in Puerto Rico, defines the joint actions to be taken to effectively address the sector's needs primarily in the areas of energy policy reform, research and capacity development. This initiative is largely directed at beneficiary countries under USAID CARCEP's mandate - Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hotel owners in these nations will be equipped with access to technical tools, training and other resources to help them understand and adopt energy efficiency best-practices to reduce their energy consumption.
Hinds played an instrumental role in reviewing the initiative and consulting to ensure it was all-inclusive of the region. “With any new program, there’s always going to be that challenge. Unfortunately, in the past, many of these initiatives impacted only a select few countries. Through a new training and online component, this initiative will expand its reach to include projects in eight countries throughout the Caribbean with key resources available to all countries,” said Denaye Hinds, OBMI's Director of Sustainability. This agreement symbolises the start of a larger benefit for sustainable growth in the region. Reductions in energy consumption will deliver environmental benefits while improving regional economic competitiveness. There are approximately 2,500 hotels that can profit from this initiative.
Each year CHIEF, staged by CHTA, attracts a large percentage of hoteliers, association executives and other targeted stakeholders and as such provides a central platform for the introduction to and uptake of these resources. Hinds also discussed how to use your property’s environmental features as unique selling points to entice eco-conscious and responsible travellers and shed light on how guests’ engagement in green initiatives can improve the bottom line and strengthen guest relations.
In November the USAID CARCEP's training program will begin in Jamaica with additional countries following in the coming months.
About USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Program (CARCEP)
USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Program (CARCEP) is a five-year development activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Through regional partnerships, USAID CARCEP assists Caribbean countries in establishing effective policy, legislative and regulatory environments as well as incentives for energy efficiency and low-emission growth in the energy sector. USAID CARCEP also works closely with the private sector to drive investments in clean energy development. Beneficiary countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
About OBM International
Founded 80 years ago in the Caribbean, OBMI is a global leader in architectural design with an experienced team of professionals who are passionate about the creation of successful and sustainable places. Ms. Hinds is Director of Sustainability tasked with developing, leading and growing the company’s sustainability practice. She currently serves as Co-Chair of CAST (Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism), an initiative of CHTA.
About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean's leading association representing tourism interests for national hotel and tourism associations. CHTA works with 1,000 hotel and allied members and 32 National Hotel Associations to shape the Caribbean's future ensuring they are sustainable for generations to come.
The agreement, which was signed during the official ceremony of the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in Puerto Rico, defines the joint actions to be taken to effectively address the sector's needs primarily in the areas of energy policy reform, research and capacity development. This initiative is largely directed at beneficiary countries under USAID CARCEP's mandate - Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hotel owners in these nations will be equipped with access to technical tools, training and other resources to help them understand and adopt energy efficiency best-practices to reduce their energy consumption.
Hinds played an instrumental role in reviewing the initiative and consulting to ensure it was all-inclusive of the region. “With any new program, there’s always going to be that challenge. Unfortunately, in the past, many of these initiatives impacted only a select few countries. Through a new training and online component, this initiative will expand its reach to include projects in eight countries throughout the Caribbean with key resources available to all countries,” said Denaye Hinds, OBMI's Director of Sustainability. This agreement symbolises the start of a larger benefit for sustainable growth in the region. Reductions in energy consumption will deliver environmental benefits while improving regional economic competitiveness. There are approximately 2,500 hotels that can profit from this initiative.
Each year CHIEF, staged by CHTA, attracts a large percentage of hoteliers, association executives and other targeted stakeholders and as such provides a central platform for the introduction to and uptake of these resources. Hinds also discussed how to use your property’s environmental features as unique selling points to entice eco-conscious and responsible travellers and shed light on how guests’ engagement in green initiatives can improve the bottom line and strengthen guest relations.
In November the USAID CARCEP's training program will begin in Jamaica with additional countries following in the coming months.
About USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Program (CARCEP)
USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Program (CARCEP) is a five-year development activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Through regional partnerships, USAID CARCEP assists Caribbean countries in establishing effective policy, legislative and regulatory environments as well as incentives for energy efficiency and low-emission growth in the energy sector. USAID CARCEP also works closely with the private sector to drive investments in clean energy development. Beneficiary countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
About OBM International
Founded 80 years ago in the Caribbean, OBMI is a global leader in architectural design with an experienced team of professionals who are passionate about the creation of successful and sustainable places. Ms. Hinds is Director of Sustainability tasked with developing, leading and growing the company’s sustainability practice. She currently serves as Co-Chair of CAST (Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism), an initiative of CHTA.
About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean's leading association representing tourism interests for national hotel and tourism associations. CHTA works with 1,000 hotel and allied members and 32 National Hotel Associations to shape the Caribbean's future ensuring they are sustainable for generations to come.
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OBM International
Rebecca Gutierrez
+1 305 537 7105
http://www.obmi.com/
Rebecca Gutierrez
+1 305 537 7105
http://www.obmi.com/
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