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Jamaica’s Tourism Minister in talks with potential Israeli investors

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Bartlett in talks with potential Israeli investors

Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says major hotel brands in Israel have expressed interest in investing in Jamaica and are expected to visit the island soon.

“I am very happy to share that our meetings in the Mediterranean have been very fruitful. We have met with a number of hoteliers including the luxury brand Brown Hotels. Their properties are a very trendy group, similar to the Hard Rock brand, and I am sure it will be a great addition to our Kingston or Montego Bay offerings,’ said the Minister.


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Brown Hotels is a rapidly-expanding global boutique hotel brand with roots in Tel Aviv. Conceived by native Israelis, Leon Avigad & Nitzan Perry with partner Nir Waizman. Their properties include four hotels in Tel Aviv, two in Jerusalem and one in Croatia.

The Minister also noted that the investors have accepted his invitation to visit Jamaica, and should be in attendance at the upcoming Jamaica Rum Festival.

The Festival, which will take place at place at Hope Gardens on March 9 and 10, is being presented by J. Wray & Nephew Limited’s Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum brand in partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). It aims to promote brand Jamaica, boost tourism in Kingston and showcase Jamaica’s cultural excellence in rum, food and music.

“I am looking forward to continuing our discussions when the team arrives in Kingston next month. I am also excited that they will get an opportunity to attend this major food festival we will be hosting in Kingston. This is a potentially big find and they are ready for the Caribbean particularly Jamaica because of our music and rum which are so appealing to young people,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Minister is currently in Israel to participate in the Annual International Mediterranean Tourism Market event.

The International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM 2019) is an annual tourism event that brings together professionals and service providers from the tourism industry and introduces new attractions and tourist destinations.

The Minister is expected to return to the island on February 18.

WYMARA RESORT AND VILLAS DEBUTS IN TURKS AND CAICOS

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Formerly Known as Gansevoort Turks + Caicos, Luxury Resort Located on Famed Grace Bay Beach Announces New Independent Brand

Wymara Ltd. today announced a new brand, Wymara Resort and Villas, a beloved escape set against the panoramic seascape of Grace Bay Beachin Providenciales, Turks + Caicos Islands; ushering in a new year and a new era for the luxury resort and newly-unveiled oceanfront Villas on Turtle Tail.  The resort and villas remain fully owned and managed by the original developers of the resort, Wymara Ltd., and guests will enjoy a continuation of the warm hospitality, attentive service and amenities the resort is known for.

“As we enter 2019 with the new Villas and the 10thanniversary of the resort, we took the opportunity to create a fresh, comprehensive new independent identity.” said Rob Ayer and Bruce Maclaren, co-developers and owners, Wymara Ltd. “We are committed to elevating the guest experience with contemporary elegance in all design aspects, quality and service; which will redefine Caribbean Luxury.”

Wymara Resort and Villas is a chic and intimate retreat that captures the prestige, pristine beauty and spirit of the Turks + Caicos Islands, blending a contemporary resort design with sophisticated service. The resort is located directly on the most private western end of Grace Bay Beach; one of the world’s most coveted beaches. Wymara guests are invited to experience luxury on their own terms and discover all that Turks & Caicos Islands has to offer. The seasoned team will help guests live out their ideal holiday in paradise, whether its diving into, or setting sail on the crystal-clear waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands, enjoying inventive island cuisine, seeking out wellness experiences at the Spa, or simply relaxing with their loved ones on soft white sands or by the stunning 7,000 square foot infinity pool.

“Our tenured executive team of hospitality experts truly care about curating the most enjoyable and memorable stays for each individual guest,” says Grant Friedman, CEO and managing director of Wymara Ltd., whohas been managing the property since its opening 10 years ago. “We look forward to welcoming guests to experience our new brand that celebrates our award-winning resort, Villas and team.”

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Along with its redesigned beachfront restaurant, Zest, and wildly popular rosé wine and blush champagne-themed Pink Bar, which sits directly on the sand, Wymara has introduced seven spectacular new villas on Turtle Tail Bay, located just 2.5 miles away from the resort. The extraordinary four- and five-bedroom villas are each located on about half an acre of elevated hillside overlooking the southern shores and Caribbean Sea and feature two private pools, expansive indoor-outdoor living areas, a sunken outdoor fire pit lounge area, over-the-water swimming platforms with direct ocean access, and incredible services and amenities, including access to the resort’s beach, restaurants, bars and spa.

The resort’s ideal location on the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach, recognized as “Best Beach” by Condé Nast Travelermagazine and “Best Beach in the World” by TripAdvisor, invites guests to enjoy the crystal-clear turquoise waters and pristine white sand beaches of Providenciales. The island boasts the third largest barrier reef in the world, rich in aquatic life, and offers countless opportunities for watersports such as kayaking and paddle boarding, as well as exceptional diving.

For more information, please visit www.wymararesortandvillas.com, call 1-888-844-5986 or email info@wymararesortandvillas.com

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About Wymara Resort and Villas

Wymara Resort and Villas is a 91-room luxury resort situated on the secluded western end of the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach along reef-protected ocean waters in Providenciales, Turks + Caicos. Featuring a well-appointed spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center; a 7,000 square foot infinity pool looking out onto turquoise waters; signature restaurant Stelle, serving fresh global cuisine with a distinctive Asian flair; and beachfront restaurant Zest, serving Japanese Robata Grilled specialties with seafood and meats, creative salads and handmade pizzas; the resort beckons guests to experience a chic corner of paradise. In 2018, Wymara introduced seven waterfront four- and five-bedroom villas on Turtle Tail Bay, located just 2.5 miles away for the main resort, offering ultimate privacy and panoramic views, along with an on-site Villa host and a la carte chef services.

 Contact:          Murphy O’Brien

Laura Millett | 310-586-7142 | lmillett@murphyobrien.com

Building Resilience of Caribbean SMTEs: OAS launches $500,000 project

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The Organization of American States (OAS) has launched a US$500,000 project to assist the region’s small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs) to build resilience to natural disasters.

The project was launched during the 2nd Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), hosted at the Montego Bay Convention Centre by the government and the United Nations World Tourism Organization on January 29.

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Speaking ahead of the launch, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “We are so happy to have the vast expertise of the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Nestor Mendez, at the launch who I am pleased to say comes bearing gifts. This very important resilience project for our SMTEs will help build the capacity of our sector to better help us become more resilient when disruptions occur.”

The project is funded by the United States Department of State and managed by the OAS Secretariat for Integral Development. It will assist small tourism enterprises in the Caribbean to overcome the various challenges that affect the ability of Governments and businesses alike to continue their business operations during and after catastrophic events in the Caribbean.

Participating countries set to benefit include: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

It will be carried out in a two-year period, with the primary aim being to reduce the severity, impact and duration of disruptions caused by a disaster on the operations of the small enterprises in the Caribbean.

“The Caribbean is among the most tourism-dependent regions in the world and there is no other region whose travel and tourism industry is as vulnerable to disasters as the Caribbean. It is undeniable that climate change presents an existential threat to small island developing states and low lying coastal areas, which include the countries of the Caribbean,” said Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Nestor Mendez.

He also noted that “The OAS identified, among the main long-term needs of the region, the need for tourism-related disaster preparedness and crisis management, communications plans as well as methodologies to follow before and after a disaster.”

This 2nd Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), is a direct response to the global conference on jobs and inclusive growth hosted in Jamaica in 2017, which brought to the fore many of the perennial challenges faced by SMTEs, including issues of access to credit, marketing, technology and business development.

The conference organisers therefore saw it prudent to have another event focused solely on SMTEs and best practices that have direct relevance to their development.

PM, Bartlett welcome return of EP hotel model to Jamaica

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Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett have welcomed the return of the EP (European Plan) model of hotels as part of the expanding tourism industry.

Sunday’s official opening of S Hotel along Montego Bay’s Hip Strip was the first significant hotel of its kind to open its doors using this model, in more than three decades. Large all-inclusive hotels make up about 80 percent of resort destination’s room stock.

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Minister Bartlett described S Hotel as special “because the S is bringing back the model of tourism that has escaped us for a while, the EP model which offers an opportunity for more involvement and more participation

This sentiment was endorsed by Prime Minister Holness who said, “We must find ways to make tourism inclusive and beneficial to all the people of Jamaica.”

According to Prime Minister Holness, the strategy for tourism must be to ensure connectivity with the rest of the economy. He said, “The benefit of tourism must be shared with the people, because all tourism is, if you take away the block and steel, it is the people, it is the culture, it is our music, it is our language, it is our dance. It is all of that put together to form a package that distinguishes us from the rest of the world that makes people want to come here and enjoy.”

The Prime Minister expressed the view that the industry must create an instrumental approach to ensuring that the benefits are shared. “Buy more Jamaican, employ more Jamaicans as entertainers; put them in your package, make people see them because that is what is going to create the value for your product,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Bartlett was elated “that tourism in Jamaica is outstanding,” stating that the new hotel signalled the start of a momentous week for tourism in Jamaica “because the opening of this very critical addition to the room stock and more so the variety of offering that we are providing in the accommodation subsector, begins a week of tourism celebration and marketing.

Outlining several activities planned, he said Jamaica would take centre stage Monday night at the World Travel Awards and Tuesday morning “we welcome the world with the second Global Conference on Job Creation and Inclusive Growth with emphasis on small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs).”

Sunday’s opening of S Hotel was also attended by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen; former prime ministers P.J. Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller; Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips and Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Dr Wykeham McNeil.

Global Tourism Resilience Center offers assistance for Kenya

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The official opening for the Global Tourism Resilience Center is planned on January 20, and the center is busy already reaching out to Kenya. In a statement today Crisis Management Centre founder, the Hon, Ed Bartlett already condemns the recent terrorist attack that was launched the Dusit 2 luxury hotel in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Tuesday, speaking for the Global Tourism Resilience Center.

“Attacks like these threaten the lives and live hoods of countries globally and we condemn them. Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Kenya who have been affected and deeply impacted,” said Minister Bartlett.

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CNBS News reported that the attack Tuesday came three years to the day after al-Shabab extremists attacked a Kenyan military base in neighbouring Somalia, killing scores of people. The al Qaeda-linked group objects to the presence of Kenyan troops in the turbulent Horn of Africa nation.

As at today [January 16, 2019] CNN indicated that an American and a Briton were confirmed to be among at least 14 people killed in a terrifying attack at the hotel complex in Nairobi.

Minister Bartlett has also indicated that the Centre stands ready to support Kenya in their recovery programme, “These acts of terror have also brought to the fore the urgent need for strategic infrastructure and mechanisms to be able to detect, manage and recover and this is where the Global Resilience Centre comes in and will play its part in this regard.

The Centre therefore stands ready to support the recovery efforts.”

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which will be housed at the University of the West Indies Mona, was first announced during the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, held in Montego Bay last November, as a response to political turmoil, climatic events, pandemics, shifting global economies as well as crime and violence which can be devastating to travel and tourism.

The official launch is scheduled for January 20, 2019, during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which will be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.