JAMAICA INVITES THE MEETING, INCENTIVE AND CONVENTION MARKET
In Jamaica, a New Conference Center Will Open in Kingston
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct.12, 2022: Jamaica is welcoming an expanded meeting, incentive and convention market with new and renovated resorts, new flights and a conference center in Kingston. www.visitjamaica.com/groups/ “Group business is an important component of our tourism sector and one which we are proactively targeting for growth,” said Director Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White. “Jamaica’s travel industry is truly resilient and is on the cusp of a full recovery from the pandemic, so there’s never been a better time to book meetings and events on the island. Our local hotel and DMC partners are consummate professionals dedicated to creating seamless in-destination experiences and they continue to develop new offers specifically designed to attract the MICE market.” John Woolcock, Manager, of Groups & Conventions, Jamaica Tourist Board, added, ” We have an abundance of diverse activities to appeal to groups that align perfectly with current marketplace trends. From authentic cultural experiences to river rafting or hiking in the Blue Mountains, Jamaica offers so much more than just sun, sea and sand for planners’ clients to enjoy.”
“While all destinations across the world have experienced challenges as a result of the pandemic, we in Jamaica are deeply grateful for the success we have had and I am extremely optimistic about the future of Jamaica’s tourism industry,” said Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White. “Positive developments include new service from key markets by our airline partners and planned investments in our destination remaining on track, so there has never been a better time to hold meetings and events in Jamaica.” www.visitjamaica.com. The Jamaica Tourist Board also announced that the island will serve as the host destination for CMITE 2023, which will be held from August 21-24, 2023, at Secrets Wild Orchid and Secrets St. James in Montego Bay. CMITE, the Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange, is the only one-to-one MICE event in the Caribbean that takes place in private, deluxe rooms and connects pre-qualified, fully hosted, North American meeting planners & incentive buyers with leading Caribbean suppliers.
Air connectivity to the island continues to be bolstered by new services. Starting in February 2023, Frontier Airlines is adding three new non-stop flights to Montego Bay (MBJ) from the airline’s hub in Denver (DEN), Chicago-Midway (MDW), and St. Louis (STL). This new service provides even greater connectivity to and from the west and northwest regions of the United States for Jamaica. Approximately 8,000 new rooms are scheduled to be constructed within the next 2-5 years. These include a 2,000-room Princess Hotel, the 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River resort and a third RIU hotel with 700 rooms, all providing additional meeting space. Further, ground-breaking is being planned for the 2,000-room Hard Rock Hotel along with several other properties and the renovations at Couples San Souci are on track for completion by December 2023. In the capital city of Kingston, a multi-billion dollar 4-year redevelopment is underway at the Jamaica Conference Centre. Its lobby renovation is slated to be completed in December 2022, the first milestone in the project. Set adjacent to the Conference Centre, the 168-room ROK Hotel Kingston, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, opened in July 2022 featuring 6 meeting rooms and spacious public areas for events. For more information on Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com . For more specific information about meeting in Jamaica, please visit https://www.visitjamaica.com/groups/ .
About The Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris. For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.
