BIZZ BUZZ
Choice Opts For Caribbean Destinations
Choice Hotels International has identified the Caribbean as a "priority area for expansion" and will invest in the region in coming years. The hospitality chain already has eight Caribbean franchises in the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Curacao and Puerto Rico but wants to expand more since "(the Caribbean) is the number one destination requested by guests." Although the Maryland-based company has over 6,000 locations worldwide, its Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Joyce, said Choice still has room to grow. "Clearly our path for significant growth is internationally," he said. "But the Caribbean is one of our primary targets because we view the region as an extension of what we're doing domestically." Its ability to "drive customers into the Caribbean market" would directly benefit the region, the company said. The chain books "millions of room-nights a year." "The Caribbean is a value that's not being communicated well to the rank and file customer out there," Joyce said, adding that more Choice-branded hotels would significantly boost promotion to the region. "More options in the Caribbean would be advantageous for loyal Choice Hotels guests," he said, "but the region (also) needs it. It's a good combination because we're able to get our customers to the places they love and help out a lot of hotel owners at the same time," he said. Among its brands are Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Clarion Hotels, and Sleep Inn. It earns in excess of US$600 million ($53 billion) each year from its franchises. Smaller properties, with 40 to 50 rooms, are the company's specialty, Joyce said. Choice's interest in the small hotel sector is significant since it comes with international marketing reach, said Evelyn Smith, the president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association. But some small hotels may be better placed than others to join an international brand, since they may have to make fewer changes to meet the chain's standards. "We see the need and desire for smaller properties to move to a branded concept," Joyce said, adding that it's "good long-term proposition" for the brand to tap into the allure of small hotels. Choice has projects under developments in Haiti, Dominica and Anguilla, with negotiations to award a franchise in St. Maarten in the final stages. BusinessFocus Sept / Oct
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10 Participants Graduate from LMI Executive Showcase Programme
Leadership Management International (LMI), a USA based performance improvement company specializing in personal leadership and organisational development, has recently graduated 10 executives from St. Lucia in July. Participants came from private sector firms such as FICS, R.J. Clarke, Ramco. Missing from the picture is Mr. Nicholas Faisal, former Managing Director of the National Housing Corporation, Mrs. Cecelia Cherubin, Managing Director, Excel Signs and Ms. Paula Auguste, Director of the CookUp Restaurant. After 8 weeks (2 hours a week) of training in Effective Personal Productivity and time management, participants have been singing the praises of the LMI programmes. Testimonials by the participants included: “Where was this programme when I first started to work? I got more from that programme than when I did my first degree: I am able to identify my high off pay activities and I am now delegating my low pay off activities; I have been able to double my time spent with family and recreational activities, which was always been a problem in the past; I am structured in my thinking and have set goals for the future.” The programme was facilitated by Mrs. Marcelline Chitolie, who is the LMI representative in St. Lucia and the OECS Member States. She said she is heartened at the impact of the programmes on the lives of the participants and explained that the programme is unique as it deals with behavioural and attitudinal changes; that it concentrates on the total person and it uses spaced repetition of powerful ideas and actions. She further stated that each participant discovers and develops leadership attitudes, goal awareness, and goal consciousness in quantities not known before. LMI (St. Lucia) was launched in February 2012 as its latest member. LMI International operates in over 80 countries around the world and has impacted the lives of over 1 million people. The company has been in operation since 1966 and was founded by Paul J. Meyer who is recognized as one of the world’s most outstanding authorities in the field of goal setting, motivation, time management and personal and professional development. Upcoming executive showcases are: 20TH September – 2nd November, 2012 11th October – 22nd November, 2012 10th January – 27th February, 2013 For more information call Clara Mclean at 453-0367 or visit the website at www.info@lmistlucia.com