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‘Rediscover Jamaica’ Campaign Encourages Jamaicans To Taste, See, Feel And Enjoy The Country’s Tourism Product

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The ‘Rediscover Jamaica’ campaign, which encourages Jamaicans to taste, see, feel, and enjoy the country’s tourism product, was officially launched on July 22.

The domestic marketing campaign also encourages persons living on the island to feel good again, by going out and enjoying the sights, scenes, and taste of the island.

Speaking at the official launch at The Jamaica Pegasus, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett urged persons to take full advantage of the deals that are being provided under the campaign.

“The timing is right for the Rediscover Jamaica Campaign. Summer is traditionally a time when we take day trips to long-time favorites or to those undiscovered places. Our upcoming August holidays provide the perfect reason to enjoy our accommodations, attractions, shopping, and transportation,” Mr. Bartlett said.

He reminded that persons must adhere to the safety protocols that have been established by the Government to protect themselves and families against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“I want you to take full advantage of them and all with the protocols being observed. The way that we manage in uncertainty, the way that we manage the unknown, is to follow the protocols that are known,” he said.

Mr. Bartlett pointed out that the sector’s protocol elements focus on sanitation, physical distancing, enhanced digital enablement, real-time health monitoring and reporting, rapid response, and staff training, among others.

He commended the Jamaica Tourist Board on the work that they have been doing in developing the Rediscover Jamaica campaign.

“This is not a knee-jerk reaction because of COVID, because we started this staycation years ago. We might not have moved it with the energy that we should, but this is a moment when the psychosocial impact of COVID is taking its toll, so we need a release and the wonderful products are all there, the glories of our culture await us. Let’s go out, rediscover Jamaica, enjoy the summer and be safe,” he said.

For his part, Director of Tourism, Donovan White, noted that more than 100 tourism partners are offering discounts and products to Jamaicans, so that they can enjoy the tourism product.

“Enjoy the products that we and our partners have built together that have served and provided such wonderful experiences for people from around the world. We want every Jamaican to feel that energy and product,” he said.

Mr. White informed that the offers range from as high as 50 percent off in some instances, and urged persons to “call their travel agents to book their staycation”.

Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Omar Robinson, said a vast array of safety protocols that will guide employees and visitors have been implemented at hotels, resorts, and attractions, noting that this “will form part of the new normal as resorts and attractions are reopened safely”.

“We are ready to welcome our Jamaicans; our properties are ready; the employees are well trained on the safety protocols and will ensure that all our visitors… have a safe and wonderful experience,” he said.

Mr. Robinson noted that approximately 35 percent of the island’s resorts have resumed operations.

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Minister Bartlett Endorses Spatial AI Technology for Advancing Tourism Stakeholder Development

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Photo: Okoye Henry

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), is joined by Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart (left), and President, EON Reality, Mats Johansson, as he interacts with Spatial AI technology at Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Thursday (October 5). The occasion was the launch of the EON Reality and Sandals Corporate University (SCU) training and development partnership.

Spatial Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is poised to revolutionise training in Jamaica’s tourism industry through virtual and augmented reality platforms for enhancing the education and professional development of staff and stakeholders in the sector.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, endorsed the transformative potential of the technology while addressing the launch of the EON Reality and Sandals Corporate University (SCU) training and development partnership at Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Thursday (October 5).

“We gather to celebrate the launch of the SCU and the EON Reality XR platform as a milestone innovation that has the potential to dramatically reshape the education and training landscape in the tourism sector and other industries,” Mr. Bartlett stated.

“This is because it focuses on the use of virtual augmented mixed and extended reality, and this will help to fundamentally transform the methods by which we acquire knowledge and exchange training,” he added.

The collaboration promises to impact Jamaica and the Caribbean on a wide scale, with the potential to target over 10,000 employees for upskilling according to the Minister.

Additionally, he said the interactive and immersive approach contributes to securing the future of tourism by equipping the workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in an ever-evolving industry.

“In the current era, characterised by rapid technological changes, endeavours such as the SCU and EON partnership will guarantee Jamaica’s sustained position in tourism as a global leader in education and training,” Mr. Bartlett outlined.

“What we are doing in Jamaica is truly creating the space for leadership. The goal is not to merely establish a platform but, more importantly, it is to herald the advent of a new paradigm in education transformation,” he added.

SCU, as part of the Sandals Resorts International brand, holds an esteemed place in the hospitality sector.

Through the unique adult education programme offered by SCU, team members have access to comprehensive hospitality-specific training and academic qualifications.

The use of EON Reality’s innovative solutions across these diverse programmes demonstrates the versatility of the EON AI Assistant in facilitating learning and teaching across various subject areas.

Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, pointed out that learning has always been and will continue to be at the heart of what defines Sandals and its subsidiaries.

He said the brand is built on human interaction, noting that amidst all the changes, the core of their service remains “person to person, smile to smile”.

“So, my job has been to follow through on what started many, many years ago, to assemble the most extraordinary team of visionaries and find most extraordinary platforms to be able to execute on that dream,” Mr. Stewart explained.

“This [partnership] is going to help so many Caribbean nationals, hopefully starting here, but expanding right through the wider Caribbean and far beyond Sandals Resorts International, so [that] we can train our people and uplift them,” he added.

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S Hotel in Montego Bay Ranked as One of the Best Globally

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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Montego Bay based S Hotel’s ranking as one of the best hotels in the world speaks volume as to how brand Jamaica is being viewed in the international marketplace.

Speaking to JIS News following a function in St. James over the weekend (October 8), Mr. Bartlett said the fact that the ranking was coming from Conde Nast Traveler, the world’s foremost travel magazine, makes the honour even the more special.

“Conde Nast Traveler is the Forbes Magazine of the hospitality sector… . If they say you are a big deal, then it simply means you are top-tier stuff,” Mr. Bartlett said.

“Of note and equally significant is that Conde Nast Traveler also ranked the S Hotel as the number-one hotel in the Caribbean and Central America. This is huge and must be celebrated. This is a big win for the S Hotel and, by extension, Jamaica’s tourism product,” he added.

A Jamaican-owned, managed and staffed and a relative newcomer on the Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, more popularly known as the Hip Strip, the S Hotel came in at number 16 on the magazine’s 2023 Best Hotels in the World Readers’ Choice Awards.

The New York City, United States-headquartered Readers’ Choice Awards, and which has been running for 36 years, had some 526,518 participants deciding on the hotel rankings, a list that was dominated by world-renowned brands such as the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Peninsula and Shangri-La resorts, among other international giants.

“It is an impressive ranking for a hotel that opened in 2019, a year before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. S Hotel is Jamaican in every sense and they are known to be very meticulous in their operations. It is good to see Jamaica’s higher-end resorts getting this attention – the emphasis on Jamaican culture, first-rate service and that family feeling is gaining a lot of traction. Kudos to the phenomenal team there for continually striving for perfection,” Mr. Bartlett said.

Conde Nast, in commenting on S Hotel’s high ranking amongst the world’s best said: “At S Hotel you get the laid-back vibe of a stay in Jamaica with a bit of South Beach, Florida glitz – they even line the deck of their sleek pool with some of the island’s famous white sand.

If that isn’t enough sand for your liking, the hotel also offers private access to idyllic Doctor’s Cave Beach and its gentle surf.

“Inside, the ocean-view rooms are big enough to pass for apartments in some big cities. And they lay a minimalist black and white colour scheme over a beachy aesthetic (lots of wicker furniture, including covering the bathtub) that will leave you feeling maximally relaxed. If it doesn’t, there’s always the Irie Baths and Spa, which has three underground plunge pools (hot, warm, and cold) that provide kinetic energy therapy and send you out feeling totally relaxed, in addition to the usual massages and skin treatment options,” Conde Nast added.

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Business Travel Tourism on the Rise In Jamaica

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Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White, says Jamaica is experiencing a surge in business travel, which is on its way back to pre-COVID levels.

He informed that the country’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector is on the rise.

MICE tourism refers to business-related events that are planned, and professionals from the related sector are brought together in a hospitality setting.

Speaking at the Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange (CMITE) Breakfast held at the Secrets Wild Orchid Resort in Montego Bay, St. James, on Tuesday (August 22), Mr. White noted that “business is back, and in-person events are once again being well attended”.

“We here in Jamaica could not be more pleased, as group business has long been a key component of our strategy for the development and growth of the island’s tourism product,” he stated.

The Director of Tourism pointed out that while MICE travel is not measured by percentages due to the varied sizes of the groups and the dynamic nature of meetings, tourism stakeholders have been reporting bookings for large groups, several months ahead of time.

“All our partners are beginning to report that they are [seeing] in their reservations, six months, 12 months, and 18 months ahead for large groups coming back to Jamaica, and that is an extremely good sign for our forecasting ability of arrivals to the destination,” he stated.

The CMITE meetings, which were hosted by wellness brand Questex on the island, connects North American meeting planners and incentive buyers with leading Caribbean and Mexico-based suppliers to foster meaningful industry relationships.

While noting that the island is pleased to have been chosen to host CMITE for the third time, Mr. White outlined that Jamaica has put in the work to ensure that it could once again host meetings of this nature.

“It’s the kind of market that’s built on a lot of sensitivity, so we’ve worked very hard over the last two and a half to three years since COVID, to rebuild Jamaica’s appetite for business travel, meetings, and conventions,” he pointed out.

“Our hotels have adequate meeting spaces, and our partners who are interested in this segment of the market have ensured that their hotels have the necessary facilities to accommodate small, medium, and even 600-person groups,” he added.

The objective of the CMITE series of meetings is to promote Jamaica as a warm-weather destination of choice with the personnel, infrastructure, and strong cultural appeal that will result in reservations for meeting and incentive groups.

More than 40 buyers and planners are participating in the meetings, which are being held from August 21 to 24.

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Adoption of Blue Ocean Strategy Can Revolutionise Tourism Sector…..Edmund Bartlett.

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Adoption of the Blue Ocean Strategy has the potential to revolutionise Jamaica’s tourism industry in ways that will differentiate the island from its regional competitors, says Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

He said that implementation of the strategy will not only stimulate economic growth by attracting new investments and increasing visitor spending but will, in turn, create employment opportunities across various sectors.

The Minister was speaking at the graduation ceremony for the Central Jamaica Social Development Initiative (CJSDI) North West Manchester Youth Entrepreneurship Training, at the Tropics View Hotel, Hatfield, Manchester, on August 17.

The Blue Ocean Strategy, developed by Professors W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, suggests that businesses can achieve remarkable success by identifying and capturing untapped market spaces, termed ‘blue oceans’.

“By creating unique and differentiated offerings, Jamaica can stand out in a crowded global market. This will attract travellers seeking novel experiences and position the country as a premier destination for sustainable tourism,”

These blue oceans represent areas where competition is low or nonexistent, allowing businesses to create and capture new demand by focusing on differentiation and innovation rather than competing in overcrowded market spaces.

These organisations can secure long-term growth and profitability.

“By creating unique and differentiated offerings, Jamaica can stand out in a crowded global market. This will attract travellers seeking novel experiences and position the country as a premier destination for sustainable tourism,” the Minister told graduates, parents and other stakeholders.

“By emphasising Jamaica’s cultural heritage and promoting community involvement, the strategy will help preserve and celebrate the island’s rich traditions while providing authentic experiences for visitors,” he added.

Mr. Bartlett said that by targeting new customer segments, the Ministry aims to identify untapped markets, such as adventure tourism, wellness tourism, and eco-tourism, to attract a diverse range of travellers with varied interests, noting that by catering to niche segments and developing tailored experiences, Jamaica can meet the evolving demands of modern travellers.

He said that by pursuing strategic partnerships, the Tourism Ministry also plans to foster collaborations between the public and private sectors, local communities and international stakeholders.

These partnerships, he said, will enable Jamaica to leverage expertise, resources, and investments to drive innovation and support sustainable development initiatives.

Mr. Bartlett added that future trajectory would support the Government’s aim to break away from traditional tourism approaches and create untapped market spaces, allowing the country to thrive in an era of increased global competition.

“This bold move will generate significant excitement and anticipation within the industry, as experts recognise the potential for Jamaica to become a global leader in sustainable tourism,” he said.

“By implementing eco-friendly practices, protecting natural resources, and supporting local communities, the country can differentiate itself and attract conscious travellers seeking responsible and ethical experiences,” the Minister added.

Forty youth entrepreneurs from across Manchester who have been trained in the principles of effective business operation since April 2023 graduated from the CJSDI Entrepreneurship Training Programme.

The programme’s main aim is to provide the graduates with the skills to transform fledgling businesses into successful entities that meet global standards and give graduates small grant funding to support their entrepreneurial goals.

The training was conducted in partnership with other public agencies, such as the HEART/NSTA Trust, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ).

By: , JIS

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Tourism Ministry to Conduct Economic Impact Study on Proposed Hotel Room Developments

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A Tourism Economic Impact Study is to be conducted to identify the economic, fiscal, social and environmental impact of the development of an additional 15,000 to 20,000 hotel rooms to augment Jamaica’s existing stock.

This exercise will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced as he closed the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 20).

He said the study’s objectives are to identify and evaluate the potential impact of the proposed developments on gross domestic product (GDP); foreign exchange earnings; investment; government revenue and expenditure; income and employment (direct and indirect); and key related sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and entertainment.

The study is also intended to identify and evaluate the potential impact of the proposed developments on infrastructure needs; the environment; and individuals (particularly in relation to housing, transport, and recreation); and provide recommendations to mitigate potential negative impacts while capitalising on positive effects, as well as a credible, rigorous evidence base to inform public awareness of the value of the tourism industry to Jamaica.

“This is the most substantial increase in room stock over the shortest period of time in Jamaica’s history. It represents a uniquely transformative moment. We must seize the moment to obtain the maximum social and economic benefit,” Mr. Bartlett said.

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