Miami, FL, September 18, 2014 – Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), and its participating member resorts, recently made a $20,000 donation to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Education Foundation. Mr. Panna Utpaul, general manager of Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove, presented the check to foundation executives during the CTO State of the Industry Conference in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Over the past 15 years, our Marriott Vacation Club resorts in the Caribbean have been honored to collaborate with Interval and its other resort partners to raise funds for the education of Caribbean nationals,” said Utpaul. “We are committed to making a difference in the lives of others and giving back to local communities here in St. Thomas and throughout the region, and are extremely proud to help generate scholarships for young professionals who represent the future leaders of the tourism industry.”
“It’s been a real pleasure for Interval to work in partnership with its member resorts throughout the region to support the important initiatives of the CTO Foundation,” said Neil Kolton, Interval’s director of resort sales and service for the Caribbean and Florida. “In 2014, the shared ownership industry is once again one of the largest contributors to this cause, which would not be possible without the generosity of our industry partners.”
“The foundation is extremely grateful for the enduring commitment of Interval and its resort clients. Their unfailing loyalty has meant a great deal to us and has had a direct impact on our ability to provide Caribbean nationals with the opportunity to develop the skills to pursue a career in hospitality,” said Jacqueline Johnson, chairman of the CTO Foundation.
Nearly 30 resorts across 13 countries made donations to this year’s fundraising efforts, including:
Antigua – Tranquility Bay Antigua
Aruba – Caribbean Palm Village Resort, La Cabana Beach Resort and Casino, Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, Paradise Beach Villas, and Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino
Bahamas – Island Seas Resort
Bermuda – The St. George’s Club
Cayman Islands – Morritt’s Tortuga Club, Seven Mile Beach Resort
Curaçao – The Royal Sea Aquarium Resort
Dominican Republic – VIK Hotel Cayena Beach
Jamaica – Sunset Beach Resort & Waterpark, The Oasis at Sunset
Mexican Caribbean – Laguna Suites Golf & Spa, Ocean Spa Hotel, and Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort
Puerto Rico – Aquarius Vacation Club® at Boquerón Beach, Aquarius Vacation Club, Dorado del Mar Beach and Golf Resort, ESJ Towers, and Hyatt Residence Club
St. John, U.S.V.I – Grande Bay Resort & Residence Club
St. Lucia – Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa
St. Maarten – Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, and The Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Sp
Turks and Caicos – The Alexandra Resort and Spa
The CTO Foundation was created in 1997 as a not-for-profit corporation exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, with its first scholarships and study grants conferred in 1998. Since 1998, the CTO Foundation has provided over 200 scholarships and grants totaling nearly US$1 million to deserving Caribbean nationals.
