ST JAMES, Jamaica — Empty hotel rooms are costing the Caribbean billions of dollars in economic opportunity each year, warned Frank Comito, CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

Comito, in a statement yesterday, stated that with an estimated 84,000 hotel rooms vacant each night, filling just 10 per cent of them would inject nearly US$2 billion into the region each year.

“We have the room capacity across most of our destinations to further increase the economic impact of tourism. Focused efforts by the public and private sectors to fill the large amount of unused room inventory will yield considerable results,” said Comito.

Citing both STR and CHTA research on tourism performance, Comito contended that an additional 10 per cent in visitor expenditures would generate US$628 million more in room revenue each year, plus two-thirds of added spend per visitor on food and beverage, attractions, taxis and ground transportation, retail purchases and local services.

“Filling hotel rooms generates the highest spinoff impact on tax revenues, employment and economic activity compared with all other important categories of visitors, including cruise passengers, renters and yachters,” Comito said.

His team is currently preparing for Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event.

It is to be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from January 29 to 31, and will attract hotel and destination representatives from high-level executives to key decision makers; wholesalers and tour operators; online travel agencies; Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) planners; and members of the media for several days of business meetings, including a busy program of thousands of pre-scheduled appointments to expand their businesses.