The STEP program recognizes that investment and financing is required throughout the small hotel and tourism sector to enhance viability. To that end, STEP has contracted East West Financial Services, LTD, and investment banking firm to establish an investment facility for the small hotels and tourism sector in the Caribbean. The objective for the facility is to provide a source of financing for new or existing small hotels who join in the caribbeanexperiencesTM,  that meet caribbeanexperiencesTM  standards for the brand.  Provision will also to be made for financing environmental management upgrades provided that the operation is viable.

In order to complement the activities of East West, STEP convened a meeting of Caribbean financial institutions in Barbados in April, 2002 to encourage their support in the improvement of the small hotel product.  On July 8, 2002, STEP also convened a meeting of international financial institutions in Washington, DC to present the STEP program and initiate discussions on the investment facility structure and requirements.  

For those interested in the brands and standards, click here.

Finance and investment is of major concern to the small sector. Information on business planning - how to go about it and what you need to include - is also provided in this web site.

There are many financial institutions who have programs for small business, including some who have business planning approaches.

  © 1999, 2002 The Caribbean Innkeeper
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