U.S. Travel Sector to Meet Cuban Officials in Cancun

U.S. Travel Sector to Meet Cuban Officials in Cancun
To Discuss Travel Potential

LEXINGTON, KY, January 21, 2010 - Dozens of representatives of the U.S.
travel sector will meet with their Cuban counterparts in a public forum
to discuss the potential for travel between the U.S. and Cuba.

The meeting will take place at the U.S.-Cuba Travel Summit to be held at
the Gran Melia Cancun Hotel in Cancun, Mexico, from March 24-26, 2010.

This historic gathering is being organized by Alamar Associates in
association with the NTA and sponsored by The United States Tour
Operators Association (USTOA). Other sponsors to date include Marazul
Charters, Vigilant Worldwide Communications, and The Americas Group.

A Cuban delegation of more than 20 officials and travel specialists
traveling from Havana will include ministry officials as well as
representatives of all of the major Cuban travel/tour operators.

"Over the years, these Summits have proven useful and successful in
providing U.S. company executives practical information about how to do
business in Cuba and whom to contact," said Kirby Jones, president of
Alamar Associates.

More than 100 attendees from the United States are expected to convene
in Cancun including tour operators, cruise line executives, hotel
representatives, tourism developers and investors and airline officials.
"This meeting will allow NTA members and others to meet their Cuban
counterparts and give them a leading edge in learning about the business
opportunities in Cuba," said Lisa Simon, president of NTA, which has
long supported the freedom to travel to Cuba.

In a statement to the organizers of the U.S.-Cuba Travel Summit, Senator
Byron Dorgan (D.ND), the lead sponsor of the Senate bill to lift
restrictions to travel to Cuba, said, "As sponsor of the 'Freedom to
Travel to Cuba Act' to allow all Americans to visit Cuba, I wish the
participants the very best when they come together in Cancun at the
US-Cuba Travel Summit. This meeting between US travel executives and
their Cuban counterparts is a valuable first step for American companies
and organizations to learn how things will work when Cuba is open to
American tourism."

The Conference agenda will include presentations by the Cuban ministry
officials and officials of the major U.S. travel associations; panel
discussions on the travel industry potential; practicalities about how
to prepare for business in and with Cuba; what Cuba offers; experiences
of firms already doing travel business in Cuba; and prospects for
changes in the U.S. laws.

In addition, there will be breakout sessions on all aspects of travel in
Cuba and more than two days for U.S. participants to talk informally and
personally with all officials from Cuba.

"We are strong supporters of open travel to Cuba and the current bills
in Congress to lift restrictions," said Bob Whitley, President of USTOA.
"We view this gathering as a clear signal that travel to Cuba is
important to the growth and development of our US travel industry."

This is the 10th such U.S.-Cuba business gathering that has been
organized in Cancun by Alamar Associates. Overall, more than 400 U.S.
executives have been able to meet their Cuban counterparts in such
sectors as food and agriculture, energy, general business, and travel.

Full details about the US-Cuba Travel Summit can be found at
www.uscubasummit.org

NTA is the preferred association in the tourism industry for packaged
travel professionals. NTA strives to provide value for its members by
advancing the packaged travel industry through its advocacy efforts and
progressive leadership. Connecting its members through business
development, government relations, professional development and
research, NTA has remained committed to serving its members with
integrity and quality service since its founding in 1951. Today, the NTA
membership represents 48 countries, and includes tour and travel
packagers of all types. To learn more about the most important
destination for packaged travel professionals, please visit
www.NTAonline.com.

HotelExecutive.com - Newswire - U.S. Travel Sector to Meet Cuban
Officials in Cancun (21 January 2010)
http://hotelexecutive.com/newswire/31546/u-s-travel-sector-to-meet-cuban-officials-in-cancun