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Miss Nigeria and Miss India to Visit Jamaica in March 2020

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that Miss World finalists from Nigeria and India have accepted the Government’s invitation to visit Jamaica, following their enthusiastic display of support for the crowning of Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh, as Miss World 2019.

The Minister made the announcement during a lunch, hosted for Singh and her family on Saturday, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, in Kingston.

“I am very pleased to share that Miss Nigeria, Nyekachi Douglas and Miss India, Suman Rao, will come to Jamaica….the time we are looking at is the first week of March, 2020. We are very excited to welcome them to the island and show them our warm Jamaican hospitality,” said the Minister.

The Minister first announced that the Government of Jamaica would be extending invitations to the contestants during his remarks at the second annual Golden Tourism Day Awards, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on December 15, 2019.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister noted that the Government would make the necessary arrangements to host the beauty contestants, and will ensure that they “have the best vacation that they could hope for, in the best destination that they could ever think of, and to also make sure that Jamaica remains top of mind.”

The Golden Tourism Day Awards was organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Ministry of Tourism. The gala event recognizes Tourism workers who have given 50 years or more of service to the industry.

Some 34 awardees who have served the industry as raft captains, craft traders, ground transportation operators, hoteliers, in-bond store operators, tour operators and Red Cap Porters were lauded for their remarkable contribution.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Bartlett to Invite Miss World Finalists to Visit Jamaica

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that Jamaica will be extending invitations to Miss World finalists Miss Nigeria, Nyekachi Douglas and Miss India, Suman Rao, following Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh’s historic win on Saturday.

Speaking at the second annual Golden Tourism Day Awards, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre yesterday, the Tourism Minister said that, “This weekend was a very powerful one for us in Jamaica… Our very own Toni-Ann Singh was named the beauty of the world.”

He added that, in celebration of this, “ the Director of Tourism, the Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board and I will collaborate with Minister Grange to invite not just Miss Nigeria who showed love and friendship but also Miss India, because we think it will be wonderful to have them in Jamaica.”

The Minister noted that the Government would make the necessary arrangements to host the beauty contestants, and will ensure that they “have the best vacation that they could hope for, in the best destination that they could ever think of, and to also make sure that Jamaica remains top of mind.”

Miss Nigeria, Nyekachi Douglas rose to popularity, because of her reaction to Singh’s win in London.  The reaction, which has since gone viral, had millions of social media users sharing that the genuine show of joy for Miss Jamaica’s win, is an example of how friends should support each other.

In an Instagram video after the competition, she described Singh as “amazing” and a big supporter of her fellow contestants.

Singh is the 69th Miss World and 4th Jamaican to take the title.  Miss World France, Ophely Mezino was the runner up, and Miss World India, Suman Rao placed third at the event that saw contestants from 111 countries competing in London for the crown.

“We are changing our tagline to ‘Jamaica the heartbeat of the world’, and in no other way was it expressed than in London when Toni-Ann became Miss World, becoming the 4th Jamaican to be so accorded,” he said.

The Minister made the announcement during second Golden Tourism Day Awards, which was organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Ministry of Tourism. The gala event recognizes Tourism workers who have given 50 years or more of service to the industry.

Some 34 awardees who have served the industry as raft captains, craft traders, ground transportation operators, hoteliers, in-bond store operators, tour operators and Red Cap Porters were lauded for their remarkable contribution.

“We love you, we respect you and we honor you tonight. This process of sighting good work – identifying [awardees] first of all, then positioning and celebrating you is critical. Tonight says to you that a grateful nation of people honour your work, respects your efforts and wish you well,” said Bartlett to the awardees.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

New nonstop JFK-Mobay flight to further boost Jamaica tourist arrivals

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon Edmund Bartlett and United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia, along with a raft of officials welcomed the commencement of daily nonstop American Airlines service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport today. 

American Airlines flight # 1349 arrived at 10:40a.m today with passengers and crew being treated to a warm welcome by officials complete with a performance by a Jamaican mento band.

Ambassador Tapia noted that, “The US and Jamaica have had a great and long history of diplomatic relations which includes strong airlift arrangements. Today is another representation of the strong ties between both countries which will positively impact Jamaica’s tourism and our largest carrier.”

Meanwhile Bartlett welcomed the reintroduced service noting that, “The Northeast region continues to be a strong performer for us as a destination in terms of arrivals. For the summer period, May to September 2019, the US market region recorded a 9.3 percent increase in arrivals with 785,055 visitors compared to the 718,531 visitors during the corresponding period last year.

During that period, the Northeast outpaced the overall US market and saw an increase of 13.3 percent during the same period. While stopover arrivals from the US also recorded an increase of 11.1 percent for September 2019, the Northeast again outperformed the national average and grew by 18.1 percent. This reintroduced service augurs well for us as a destination.”

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, Mr. Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Dr. Rafael Echvarne, CEO, MBJ Airports Limited, Mr. Omar Robinson, President, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Mr. Wellesley Joseph, AA Senior Regional Manager, Western Caribbean were among the specially invited guests at the flight arrival briefing.

Meanwhile, Senior Advisor/Strategist, Delano Seiveright pointed out that the new American Airlines service comes within the frame of increased flights between the United States and Jamaica, “There is daily nonstop Delta Airlines service between Detroit, Michigan and Montego Bay starting next month. Jamaica has also been benefitting from several other new flight services including new nonstop flights between Dallas, Texas and Montego Bay by Sun Country Airlines; St Louis and Montego Bay by Southwest airlines and increased frequency of flights into both Kingston and Montego Bay by Jetblue and Delta Airlines.”

He further noted that the increasing buoyancy in the tourism space is attributable to Minister Bartlett’s consistent piloting of specific growth inducing efforts.  “This includes further cementing and also opening up new source markets, including in Latin America and Europe; more new rooms; more new flights, closer collaboration with cruise operators; first-rate relationships with non-traditional players like Airbnb, among other things that represents the very cornerstone of our aggressive tourism growth strategy.”

American Airlines offers its 200 million annual customers 6,800 daily flights to more than 365 destinations in 61 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Amatterra Jamaica inks deal with Marriott International for first Marriott all-inclusive resort in Jamaica

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The architects of Jamaica’s largest integrated tourism real estate development, the Keith and Paula Russell led Amaterra Jamaica Group, have entered into a hotel management operator agreement with award-winning global travel company, Marriott International.

The official signing took place this evening in Montego Bay, Jamaica in the presence of Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Industry Minister, Audley Shaw, JAMPRO President Diane Edwards and Jampro Board Directors Delano Seiveright and Ian Levy.

Responding to consumers’ growing desire around the world for premium, worry-free vacations, Marriott International announced in August that it is launching an all-inclusive platform to serve this increasingly popular vacation segment. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, Marriott International’s portfolio currently encompasses more than 7,200 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories.

The company plans to build its new platform by leveraging seven of its established full-service and luxury brands.

In partnering with Amaterra Jamaica Limited, Marriott will further expand its all-inclusive portfolio in popular, leisure destinations worldwide and bring the first Marriott Hotels branded all-inclusive property to Jamaica, providing its 137 million Marriott Bonvoy members with the opportunity to enjoy a new vacation option in the popular destination.

Amaterra’s 800-room flagship development will be located 25 miles east of Montego Bay airport on the island’s north coast and is set on two miles of white sand beach. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020 and completed in 2022.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, noted that the development forms a key part of the, “Largest expansion of hotel room stock in Jamaica’s history representing the most powerful week in investment developments for the tourism industry, with the Marriot’s entry being a major step in the right direction.” Bartlett also listed an array of initiatives already bearing fruit in deepening linkages, broadening human capital development for tourism workers and spreading the benefits of tourism further afield.

Commenting on the partnership with Marriott International, Amaterra Group, Chairman Keith Russell noted, “The Amaterra Group is excited to welcome Marriott International as our Hotel Management Operator. The Marriott brand is internationally renowned and well respected and we couldn’t be happier to have them on board and be one of their first all-inclusive properties globally. This is a great step not only for Amaterra but also the Jamaican tourism industry and we look forward to partnering with Marriott’s other iconic brands as we go forward.”

Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America remarked, “We are thrilled to partner with Amaterra on this exciting project. Jamaica is a key destination for our new All-Inclusive brand extensions. We are pleased to start off with a flagship Marriott All-Inclusive resort project and confident that Amaterra has the vision to bring it to life on the island.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Bartlett congratulates S Hotel and Kanopi House on new Condé Nast Traveler best hotels rankings

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Luxury and lifestyle travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler, has ranked S Hotel in Montego Bay and the Kanopi House in Portland as #1 and #6 best hotels in the Caribbean and Central America, respectively, in its 32nd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

The 120-room S Hotel, owned and operated by the Crissa Group, was also ranked the 36th Best Hotel in the World.

Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett extended congratulations to the hoteliers, whose accolades will further promote Jamaica as the destination of choice for the region.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate the management and staff of the S Hotel and the Kanopi House for being listed in the 2019 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list.  These accolades will go a far way in helping us to promote brand Jamaica to new audiences,” said the Minister.

He further noted that, “I am particularly proud of the S Hotel which has ranked #1, after being operational for less than a year. The S Hotel is Jamaican owned and Jamaican managed and we are exceptionally proud of Christopher Issa’s undivided commitment and dedication to the tourism sector and to his country. We look forward to hearing more about the many other accolades to come.”

The Best Hotels in the World list ranked the 50 best hotels in the world according to 600,000 registered voters from the Condé Nast Traveler’s site.

The magazine described the S Hotel property as having “a bit of South Beach glitz” with ocean view rooms that “are big enough to pass for apartments in some big cities.” It also lauded the property for “artfully combining discreet urban sophistication and a laidback resort lifestyle offering guests an authentic Jamaican cultural experience.”

The Kanopi House is a collection of eco-chic treehouses nestled high amongst 100-foot Banyans and rooted deep in Jamaican culture.  The treehouses were designed and built by owners Brian and Jennifer Hew on six-acres in Portland, Jamaica.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944