Trinidad and Tobago's small and medium sized hotels and guesthouses are set to benefit from a multi-million dollar incentive aimed at enhancing the quality of accommodation on the island.

Launched on February 3, at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre by the Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC), the Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Guesthouse Roomstock Upgrade Incentive Project, was described by the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Joseph Ross, as an “explicit and unequivocal” expression of Government’s belief in, and support of, the tourism industry.

Spanning two years, the project will cover the refurbishment and upgrade of guestrooms, including replacement of furniture, fittings, equipment and soft furnishings. Properties will be reimbursed 25 per cent of the cost of room refurbishment, up to a maximum of TT$12,500 for Trinidad properties and TT$15,000 for Tobago properties.

“This incentive plan is in keeping with our Vision 2020 goal of upgrading the quality of accommodation options available to international visitors as well as establishing a critical mass of new rooms,” said the Tourism Minister as he delivered the feature address at the launch.

“Against the background of aggressive competition in the global market place and the sophisticated discerning tastes of today's travelers, high quality accommodation is mandatory,” Ross continued. Stating that the upgrade of roomstock quality will protect and enhance the destination’s reputation, the Tourism Minister said the project will result in an increase of first-class rooms.

“An added benefit of this initiative,” he added, “is that a level of confidence in the long term viability of the tourism industry will be engendered among property owners. This we hope this will serve as an impetus for future re-investment and expansion by existing owners and the future generations who will operate these establishments.”

Lauded by local hoteliers and other tourism stakeholders as a timely and welcome initiative, the project also won the praise of Tobago's Director of Tourism, Warren Solomon.

“The initiative addresses the issue of quality in the accommodation sector and thankfully goes beyond just a cosmetic quickie. It encourages hotel and guesthouse owners to address the aesthetic elements of their establishments, thereby elevating its physical standards,” he said.

The project, Solomon added, is an important development in the ongoing growth of Trinidad and Tobago's tourism sector as the availability of quality room stock is vital in maintaining and improving airlift to the destination.

“International tour operators and travel wholesalers must be able to contract a critical mass of rooms to offer to their clients,” said Solomon who also noted that the upgrade incentive compliments the Small Property Enhancement Programme, launched in 2009 by the Tobago House of Assembly.

TDC President and Director of Tourism Ernest Littles said the project, by supporting small and medium-sized hotels and guesthouses in improving the quality of their room product offering, is another key ingredient in enhancing the competitiveness of the destination.

“In this competitive global tourism industry, superior quality is required if Trinidad and Tobago is to compete effectively, successfully and sustainably for its share of the Caribbean region’s US$24 billion in travel and tourism revenues,” said Littles.

Developed after consultations with the Ministry of Tourism, the Tobago House of Assembly, local hotel associations, hotel owners and operators and other public and private sector stakeholders, the Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Guesthouse Roomstock Upgrade Incentive Project will target properties with a maximum of 100 rooms, which are more than four years old.