NDC At CHA Marketplace

As tourism officials attempted to showcase the island like never before, officials of the National Development Corporation were eager to take advantage of every opportunity to forge business links with the over 1,500 delegates who attended the recently concluded Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Marketplace.

This was the first time the three-day event came to the Eastern Caribbean with St. Lucia serving as host venue from January 18-20, 2009. With well over 16,000 business meetings scheduled over the duration of the event, NDC investment officials sought to sensitize buyers and sellers to the varied investment climate and overwhelming investor potential available on island.

NDC's International Investment Development Director O'Donovan Yarde says of the many major tourism developments showcased at CHA Marketplace no less than five are being facilitated by the NDC. These include Troumase Bay earmark for completion in 2012, the Residences as part of the Ritz Carlton development, due for completion in 2012, Fond Bay due in 2013, La Paradis in 2010, and the Castries Redevelopment of which a revamped and ultra modern Duty Free Pointe Seraphine will form the centre piece.

Caribbean marketplace has traditionally been held in larger markets such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Mexico.