Richard Doumeng, incoming president of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and managing director of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas, has set his agenda to reinvigorate and reinvent the CHTA by strengthening its individual national hotel associations.
Doumeng, a second-generation hotelier and past recipient of the CHTA
Caribbean Hotelier of the Year award, takes the helm of the CHTA as the
organization celebrates its 50th anniversary. He officially takes office as
president for a two-year term (2012 – 2014) at the CHTA Annual General

Meeting held on June 14, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. During the meeting,
the CHTA will elect the five vice presidents and treasurer who will serve
with Doumeng during his presidency.
“CHTA is an association of the National Hotel Associations. By strengthening the National Hotel Associations, we will bring direct and tangible value to our membership,” said Doumeng. “Our success as a region is tied to their success.”
His goals for the next two years are to: return CHTA to strong fiscal
responsibility, focus CHTA’s energy and resources on programs and events
that benefit the majority of the membership, strengthen the improved
relationship between CHTA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization through
the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, continue the CHTA advocacy
awareness with the “Tourism is Key” campaign, enhance the Taste of the
Caribbean Culinary Competition, and generate more support for the CHTA
Education Foundation.
“While the economy is still uncertain, I am optimistic for the future of our region,” adds Doumeng. “Together we can reinvigorate, revitalize and reinvent the CHTA so that we will thrive, not just survive, in the next 50 years.”
Doumeng was elected president-elect by acclamation at the Annual General
Meeting of CHTA, held last June in Miami, Florida. He has served on the CHTA Board of Directors for 20 years and vice president of the association for the past 10 years.