PHILIPSBURG/MIAMI–Emil Lee, the first St. Maarten President to sit at the helm of Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) as its President, has stepped down from the role as of November 18 because of his recent appointment as St. Maarten’s Minister of Health Care, Social Development and Labour VSA.
“It is with a heavy heart that I leave my CHTA post as president, however, I am proud of the advancements the organisation has made during my tenure and am confident that Karolin Troubetzkoy will perpetuate this momentum going forward in the creation of a new CHTA engaged with the membership,” said Lee.
Lee leaves office after serving for over ten years as a member of the Board of Directors, including two years as First Vice President and 17 months as President.
During his term as President CHTA has undergone organisational changes and restructuring, broadened membership engagement, strengthened public and private sector ties, and repositioned itself to play an even greater role in facilitating tourism’s role as a socio-economic driver for the region.
In leaving he has passed the torch to First Vice President and President-Elect Karolin Troubetzkoy eight months earlier than initially scheduled. Troubetzkoy was officially elected President-Elect by the membership last June, and will assume the role of Acting President.
“I have worked closely with Emil over the last several months and look forward to continuing the progress and energy he brought to the organization,” said Troubetzkoy, as she steps into her role as Acting President earlier than anticipated.
The CHTA Board of Directors meets in January, at which time they will vote on ratifying Troubetzkoy to take office as President of CHTA in advance of her term which would have begun in June 2016. Lee stepped down from CHTA before being sworn into his new position for St. Maarten.
CHTA has a strong succession plan in which a President-Elect is selected one year prior to taking office to allow for that person to become acclimated and involved in the Association’s affairs. The President then serves a two-year term. In addition, the Immediate Past President remains engaged as an active consultant to the new President serving in the role as Chairman.
Richard Doumeng is the current Chairman of CHTA and will continue in this position through June 2016.
CHTA is described as “the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism.” It is the largest representative of the private sector in the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry, with more than 32 National Hotel Associations and more than 600 member hotels.
Source: The Daily Herald Emil Lee steps down as CHTA President for VSA Minister role
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