The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) is gearing up for Aruba Meets Europe, a showcase event scheduled from May 15 to 19, 2006, and during which ATA promises to offer a varied program which will combine meaningful business sessions with unforgettable leisure experiences. Top tourism officials in Aruba hope attendants will be able to join for this unique occasion, enabling them to rediscover Aruba or experience firsthand this beautiful island and the unique spirit of Aruban hospitality.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism have announced that the 29th Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-29), will take place in the Bahamas in October 2006. A series of business meetings, involving Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism, the Board of Directors and various CTO committees will immediately precede the conference. The conference is the Caribbean region´s premier caucus of tourism decision-makers, and an important event on the calendar of tourism practitioners and individuals doing business with the Caribbean.

The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) is gearing up for Aruba Meets Europe, a showcase event scheduled from May 15 to 19, 2006, and during which ATA promises to offer a varied program which will combine meaningful business sessions with unforgettable leisure experiences. Top tourism officials in Aruba hope attendants will be able to join for this unique occasion, enabling them to rediscover Aruba or experience firsthand this beautiful island and the unique spirit of Aruban hospitality.

Scores of proactive tourism offices, tour operators, hotels, resorts and providers of travel from around the globe are getting set to participate at the Beijing International Travel and Tourism Market (BITTM) 2006. Recently, the China Daily newspaper reported results of an Australian market research study that revealed a strong preference among Chinese tourists to travel to the USA, France and Australia.

Ranked among the Caribbean´s best islands for diving and called one of the top destinations for new divers, the island of Curacao will be holding the first annual Curacao Dive Festival from May 20 to 27. Registration is free and visitors can enjoy a week full of guided dives, workshops, seminars and advanced dives, while nightfall brings happy hour gatherings with live entertainment, movies on the beach, BBQs and night dives.

Registration for the 34th Annual Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) is now available, with this year´s event highlight to be HFTP´s GUESTROOM 2010. The model guestroom will be part of a 90-for-40-foot pavilion featuring some of the latest and near-future technologies for the modern hotel room now available. “HFTP´s goal is to be the information source for the hospitality technology industry,” said HFTP International Secretary Jules Sieburgh, CHTP. “In pursuit of this goal, the HFTP Board of Directors felt it was the association´s obligation to fully explore the possibilities that are usually presented in pieces at HITEC. Guestroom 2010 will be a realistic model demonstrating the numerous concepts that circulate at HITEC, viewed by HITEC attendees - the industry´s major players.”