Minister McNeill endorses Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Associations (CHTA) premier tourism marketing event, Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014, will serve as a platform to showcase Jamaicas enhanced tourism product.

Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the largest and most important business-to-business marketing event for the regions hospitality industry, will be held from January 12-14, 2014, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.  Over 1200 delegates from over 26 countries in North America, South America and Europe are expected to attend the trade show.

Our destination has grown considerably since the event was last held here both in terms of our hotel rooms, with the addition of new world class brands both indigenous and foreign; and also in terms of our attractions, said Minister McNeill.   What this means is that Jamaica has so much more to offer Caribbean Travel Marketplace this time around, he added.

The trade show matches suppliers, such as hotels, restaurants and tourist boards, with buyers – tour operators and wholesalers in pre-scheduled business appointments, where parties discuss existing contracts, and develop packages and contracts for future business. This will be Jamaicas fourth time hosting this prestigious event.

Since Jamaica last hosted the trade show in 2011 the island has seen new investment and some transition in the hotel sector.  The Minister outlined that just last month the government signed a management agreement with Melia Hotels International, for the Spanish hotel chain to operate the Braco Hotel in Trelawny; the Royalton White Sands in Trelawny has come on stream with 350 refurbished rooms; while RIU will be opening its new upscale Palace with 238 rooms on December 6 and the five-star Karisma’s Sensatori will open its doors in Negril on December 21.

In support of our drive to create demand for these rooms, we also have substantial airlift capacity coming out of both our established and new markets in order to meet the growing demand for our destination, which is being fueled by our ongoing marketing efforts, said Minister McNeill.  This includes TUIs Dreamliner, which made its inaugural flight to Jamaica and the region in November, and enables deeper reach into Europe and Asia; as well as new flights out of the Czech Republic; Stockholm, Sweden; and Munich, Germany.

Director of Tourism, John Lynch, said that as Jamaica continues to press into new markets the attendance of buyer delegates at Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014 will be very beneficial to the country.  He said over 300 buyers and media representatives are expected at the event. We have all the basics in place for a very successful winter season and this event is very important from a sales point of view, Mr. Lynch added.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association have partnered with the CHTA to stage Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014.