Dominican hotelier and tourism executive Gregor Nassief has made history after being elected President-elect of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), becoming the first Dominican-born and Dominican-residing national to attain the position.

The announcement was made during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace currently underway in Antigua and Barbuda, one of the region’s premier tourism business events.

Nassief’s appointment was revealed during the opening activities, revealing that he will serve during the organization’s 2026–2028 triennium.

The appointment is being viewed as a landmark achievement not only for Dominica, but also for the wider Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with regional stakeholders praising the selection as a sign of the growing influence of smaller Caribbean destinations within regional tourism leadership.

Nassief is widely regarded as one of Dominica’s leading tourism voices and has spent years advocating for sustainable tourism development, regional cooperation and greater visibility for Caribbean destinations on the global stage.

Before his election, he served as second vice-president of the CHTA and held several key tourism leadership roles in Dominica, including deputy chairman of the Discover Dominica Authority and president of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association.

Tourism officials across the region say his elevation reflects Dominica’s growing profile within Caribbean tourism, particularly as the Nature Island continues to position itself as a leader in eco-tourism, resilience and sustainable destination development.

The CHTA plays a major role in shaping tourism policy, regional marketing strategies and private sector collaboration across the Caribbean, representing hotels, tourism associations and industry stakeholders throughout the region.

Nassief’s election comes at a critical period for Caribbean tourism as destinations seek to navigate rising operational costs, geopolitical uncertainty, airlift challenges and changing global travel trends while maintaining strong post-pandemic growth.

Regional observers say his leadership is expected to bring fresh perspective to the organization while strengthening the voice of smaller island states within Caribbean tourism decision-making.