News (Noticias) for Florida

City of Miami Mayor and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Manny Diaz, sent a letter to President George W. Bush and members of Congress Tuesday highlighting his concern for the arbitrary disqualification of 272 political candidates in Venezuela.

“The mayors of the United States view with grave concern the events occurring now in Venezuela,” said Mayor Diaz. “It is important that we express our concern and show our support for these candidates and for democratic principles in our hemisphere.”

Last June, the United States Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the summary and arbitrary disqualification of candidates without due juridical process in Venezuela, and denouncing the subjugation of the Venezuelan constitution and total disregard of separated branches of government. Since then, the disqualification of 272 otherwise eligible candidates has been upheld by the Venezuelan Supreme Court in spite of any formal charges against them.

One of these candidates is Leopoldo Lopez, mayor of the Chacao district of Caracas and a political opponent of the current Venezuelan government. Mr. Lopez, who is seeking the mayoralty of Caracas, has been an active leader in the Mayors Hemispheric Forum, an annual gathering of urban mayors throughout the Americas designed to promote cooperation and integration in our hemisphere.

The letter was delivered on Tuesday to President George W. Bush and key members of his administration, as well as to Congressman Howard L. Berman, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Members of the community, as well as members of the Foreign Relations Committees and representatives of the Venezuelan diplomatic core in Washington, D.C. will also receive a copy.

Media Note: A copy of the letter sent by Mayor Manny Diaz will be available tomorrow at www.miamigov.com/mayor . The USCM resolution on Venezuela can be found at:
usmayors.org/resolutions/76th_conference/international_07.asp “

If you happen to be out on the street and run into reporters, talk to them and tell them about your life, your daily activities, complaints, desires, stories, dreams, because they will be touring South Florida, from east to west and north to south, just to be “CONTIGO MIAMI” (WITH YOU, MIAMI), working by your side to highlight the daily life of all of us who make this multifaceted region possible.

Hosted by the talented, beautiful, and charming MARCELA BERBARI and NARA ROZA, together with reporters KARINA AGUDELO, ALBERTO NOVOA, NANI MONTERO with the “Nani Que Ver Con Eso” youthful segment, and MAYI SALAS with the gossip column, the show will bring into the spotlight all our community’s events, with focus on human stories, mostly of immigrants who struggle with day-to-day existence in a land of exile, but also of all those who wish to make known their passions, joys, family values, traditions, tragedies, humor, and love in our America Te Ve channel and its new, daring, relaxing, and original “CONTIGO MIAMI” (WITH YOU, MIAMI) afternoon magazine show.

Everything related to women: health, beauty, fashion, outings, life stories, interviews, plus informative segments with the latest in local news, especially that which affects our county, and, of course, guest artists, jet set news and everything you wish to know about the world of entertainment and the stars of the moment, and even though we may not be fond of gossip, we love how much fun it provides! In “CONTIGO MIAMI” (WITH YOU, MIAMI) we will have tons for everyone’s pleasure.

We keep our doors open to all Hispanics in order to make them feel at home. Join us with all of your family because at America Te Ve we all speak the same language and we are all proud of our roots. Here, we are all “CONTIGO MIAMI” (WITH YOU, MIAMI).

America Te Ve - WJAN, your channel, is “CONTIGO MIAMI” (WITH YOU, MIAMI).

WHAT: “CONTIGO MIAMI” (WITH YOU, MIAMI), the new, daring, and relaxing afternoon magazine show.

WHEN: As of today, Monday, August 11, 2008, Mondays through Fridays at 4:00 PM

WHERE: America Te Ve - WJAN (Channel 41)

“America Te Ve invites you to enjoy the best of Spanish-speaking television in south Florida.”

Also at:
www.americateve.com “

The Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA), a rapidly growing non-profit organization that seeks to increase Latino ownership of hotels, today announced that it will hold its First Hotel, Development and Investment Conference, October 8-10 at the Doral Resort and Spa in Miami, Fla. Hilton Hotels Corporation is the title sponsor.
The international conference will provide current trends, forecasts and expert panels on Latino hotel ownership, development and management in South America, the United States, Central America and Mexico. Particular emphasis will focus on the hotel industry in Chile, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica.
“The Hispanic community is heavily involved in the operations of hotels, with Spanish spoken at approximately 90 percent of all hotels in the region,” said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association. “Historically, the Latino community has not been a major player in ownership, largely because of the hotel industry’s complexity and understanding of investment opportunities. That is why HHOA was founded to educate the Hispanic community and provide a forum to exchange ideas and build networking relationships. We now have more than 300 members and significant support from the leading hotel companies. HHOA members have been involved in the acquisition or development of nearly 50 hotels in the past 12 months and we see that number accelerating.”
The conference is targeted to both current owners and companies and individuals who want to learn more about hotel investment opportunities. Attendees will include owners, investors, high net worth individuals, financing companies, hotel brands, management companies and organizations that support hotel ownership and development.
More than 30 speakers and experts will discuss a wide array of topics, including development, finance, operations, legal and special investment tracks on Latin America and the U.S. Keynote speakers include Peter Yesawich, CEO of Ypartnership; Olivier Poroit, President Accor North America; Peter Strebble, President Wyndham Hotels Group, and Michael Gallegos, President & CEO American Property Management Corporation. A sampling of other speakers includes Mark Woodworth, president of PKF Hospitality Research, Jim Butler, partner Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro and Carlos Rodriguez, Executive VP Real Estate, Developments & Acquisitions of Driftwood Hospitality & President of DVI Cardel/Rodblu Funds.
The event will kick off with a “Battle of the Brands,” a competitive fun challenge between four brands who will set up an exclusive cocktail reception area. Attendees will vote on the “best brand,” giving it the bragging rights for the ensuing year. Some of the world’s most famous Hispanic chefs also will be on hand to create special dishes with a Latin American flair in a Culinary Master Competition.
The conference will feature an exhibit and business exchange area for brands and industry vendors, who can schedule one-on-one appointments with attendees.
The event will conclude on Friday evening with a Party for a Purpose, a special function to raise funds to underwrite scholarships for Latino students. Cost to attend the conference is $595 and $100 to attend the Party for a Purpose fundraiser.
Attending owners also will have the opportunity to attend a special review class and take the Certified Hotel Owner exam by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
Corporate sponsors include Corporate sponsors include Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, La Quinta, Hyatt, Accor North America, Choice Hotels International, Carlson Hotels Worldwide and InterContinental Hotel Group.
About HHOA
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., HHOA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the number of Hispanic-owned, -developed and -operated hotels, further the participation of Hispanic-owned suppliers serving the hotel industry and increase executive level employment opportunities for Hispanics within the lodging industry. The industry’s leading brands, including Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Global Hyatt Corporation have joined the organization and have become major corporate sponsors.
HHOA membership is open to hotel owners, developers, investors, financiers, real estate executives, investment bankers, professional advisors, analysts, franchisors, management company executives, industry product and service providers, hotel general managers, hotel sales and marketing managers, government agencies for tourism and development, hospitality schools, hospitality students or anyone seeking to do business within the Hispanic market.
Additional information about HHOA is available at the association’s Web site, www.hhoa.org. To learn more about the Hotel Investment Series, contact Angela Gonzalez-Rowe at 202-587-5707, or www.hhoa.org. “