More from Frontier
American low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has announced plans to expand its relationship with Jamaica by introducing three additional non-stop flights into Montego Bay starting next February. Frontier's Senior Manager for International Sales and Marketing William...
Kevin Hendrickson is Caribbean Hotelier of the Year
Distinguished Jamaican hotelier and businessman Kevin Hendrickson has been declared Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). The award was presented during CHTA’s historic Caribbean Travel Forum ahead of the official...
US$5.7 billion: Jamaica’s earning since reopening
After months of closure following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Jamaica’s tourism sector said it has, to date, raked in more than US$5.7 billion in earnings since reopening its borders in June 2020. According to recent data, more than five million...
Weathering any storm
Resilience. It’s a word that comes up in almost every discussion about the tourism industry these days. Including weather-related events and a pandemic, there have been an estimated 12 major disruptions in the sector in the last half a century. After the...
Inside the resilience centre
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, co-chair and founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre explains why the centre was launched and the work it has been doing. LetsTravelCaribbean.com: Why was there a need to establish the Global Tourism...
Resilience index coming
An index that will provide valuable data on everything from visitors’ safety to how attractive a destination is to investors is one of the big ticket items on the agenda for the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMG) which has emerged,...
Stronger together
Resilience has joined sustainability as the newest buzzword in tourism circles and the point is often made that Caribbean countries have a much better chance of recovering from any disruption if they work together. “If we can forget, for a minute, the wonderful values...
Chukka’s multi-destination boost
Multi-destination tourism is being touted as a major part of the strategy the Caribbean must embrace going forward, one of the tools that will make the region more resilient. Chukka Caribbean Adventures knows a thing or two about that. According to CEO Marc Melville,...
Time to unite… again
By Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart “There is no doubt that the pandemic united us. While disarming ourselves of competitive tensions we had to focus on the big picture at all times. It was probably the first time in modern-day travel...
Sea Island Beach Club
— One for the books With deliciously prepared meals, a cocktail bar full of surprises, and a beautiful white sand beach, the newly opened Sea Island Beach Club in Montego Bay welcomes everyone longing for good food and a relaxing day in paradise. Located on the...
Indulge your senses at Temple X Music Mansion
A tour of Montego Bay’s newest attraction, Temple X Music Mansion, is sure to leave music and art lovers with a heightened sense of appreciation for the rich historical value that can be found behind the property’s walls. Brainchild of Canadian music promoter Kit...
Celebrating Tourism Awareness Week
Now being celebrated until October 1, Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2022 got underway with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) gathering to give thanks for the industry and its...
The next big idea
The tourism ministry is banking on innovative Jamaicans to come up with the next big idea that will help the country hold onto its place as one of the leading destinations in the world. The Tourism Innovation Incubator will be launched on September 30 as part of a...
AC Hotel Kingston’s Andre Harris
Andre Harris’s passion for food led him to the tourism industry, and he hasn’t looked back. He’s been soaking up knowledge over the years and it’s prepared him well for his newest role as hotel manager at AC Hotel Kingston. He stepped into his new role on September 1....
Here comes the bride
Gorgeous gowns from Bliss Bridal Boutique took centre stage at Jamaica Bridal Expo 2022, held September 23 and 24 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Each staging of the popular event showcases Jamaica as a premier destination for weddings, honeymoons and romance,...
Homecoming Tour
It’s an almost two-decades-old tradition. A group of hardworking Jamaicans living in Florida spend five relaxing days at one of the Sandals Resorts across the Caribbean. By the end of their trip, they vote on which property they will visit the next year. It’s the Duke...
NEEDED: Global tourism resilience fund
As destinations worldwide continue their recovery efforts from the impact of COVID-19, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett says a Global Tourism Resilience fund is needed now, more than ever. Speaking at the 5th Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ) Ministerial...
Jamaica looks to Japan
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has indicated that tapping into the Japanese outbound market is a priority for the Caribbean country, as the destination continues its strong recovery from the pandemic. The announcement follows fruitful discussions with...
CHTA head touts tiered airline tax
The President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is recommending a tiered “dynamic taxation system” as a novel and potential solution to address ongoing concerns about the high cost of air travel within, as well as to and from the region. Calling...
Montserrat’s BIG PLANS
Six days and more than 10 opportunities have been planned to allow Montserrat residents and visitors to experience some of the tours and experiences offered by local businesses during Tourism Week. The celebration has been co-sponsored by the United Nations...
Rethinking tourism
Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and industry partners will highlight the importance of the sector to economic development and invite stakeholders to rethink how they approach tourism in a post-COVID-19 pandemic world, through the observance of Tourism...
Chukka’s Caribbean push
Chukka Caribbean Adventures has collaborated with the Antigua and Barbuda Government to create, manage, and operate a new historical eco-adventure tour in Fort Barrington, Antigua, in time for Antigua Cruise Port’s fifth pier to welcome the world’s largest cruise...
Martinique’s Depaz distillery
A trip to the French overseas department of Martinique – the flower of the Caribbean – would not be complete without visiting the Depaz distillery in the northern part of the island. Nestled in a wonderfully scenic setting in the hills around Saint-Pierre,...
Bryan is new CTO head
Cayman Islands Minister of Tourism, Kenneth Bryan has been elected as the new chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). This follows last Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting which was part of the CTO Business Meetings and Caribbean Aviation Day Event staged...
Tobago teen wins CTO Youth Congress
J’nae Brathwaite of Tobago has won the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Tourism Youth Congress which was staged at The Ritz-Carlton in the Cayman Islands on September 15. In her winning presentation on Experiential Tourism, the 17-year-old Brathwaite articulately...
SANECIA TAYLOR: Jamaica’s 2022 Jr Minister of Tourism
Sixteen-year-old Sanecia Taylor is Jamaica’s new Junior Minister of Tourism and will represent the island at the 18th staging of the Regional Tourism Youth Congress, being held in the Cayman Islands. The three-day Congress ends on September 16. A student at the...
Sandals, Cayman tourism dept sponsor prizes for CTO youth congress
Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) are sponsoring prizes for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 18th Tourism Youth Congress taking place in the Cayman Islands on September 15. Eleven countries are...
WTA #6 for Margaritaville
Margaritaville has been dubbed the Caribbean’s Leading Entertainment Venue for the 6th consecutive year, solidifying the company’s position as an innovator and industry leader in entertainment and its dedication to consistently delivering world-class dining and...
Sandals, Beaches now on Hotelbeds
One of the world’s most well-known names in hospitality, award-winning Sandals and Beaches Resorts, has been added to the Hotelbeds portfolio. As the leaders in Luxury Included® vacations, the adults-only Sandals Resorts and family-friendly Beaches Resorts offer a...
Big plans for Negril
Major plans, including an additional 5,000 hotel rooms, are on the drawing board for the development of Negril over the next five years. At the same time, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has hinted at Negril being given a status that will remove it from the dual...
CTO updates set for Sept 12
Tourism ministers, directors and various stakeholders from Caribbean Tourism Organization member countries will shine the spotlight on their respective brands in the presence of regional and international media, when the CTO stages its Destination Media Briefings in...
US$60,000 in scholarships from Sandals Foundation
With access to higher education proving difficult for the region's most disadvantaged, the Sandals Foundation has awarded approximately US$60,000 this year through its Care For Kids Scholarship programme to high-performing secondary students in need of financial...
Jamaica & Paraguay to sign MOU
Jamaica and the South American nation of Paraguay are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at building regional tourism and boosting growth in the hospitality industries in both countries. The announcement was made as Minister Bartlett held bilateral...
Island Routes cops 10th WTA win
Built out of a desire to share the boundless beauty of the Caribbean with the rest of the world, Island Routes is again victorious as the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator 2022 at the 29th annual World Travel Awards. This year marks the 10th win for the...
Spirit Airlines welcomes winter with NEW FLIGHTS
Just in time for the start of the winter tourist season, Spirit Airlines will offer nonstop flights between Connecticut and Jamaica. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has welcomed the news, saying it “is connecting the Diaspora in a stronger way”. “Hartford,...
14 in a row for SIA
Sangster International Airport (SIA), Jamaica’s leading gateway to the world operated by MBJ Airports Limited, has again been named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport by World Travel Awards (WTA). The award was presented at the World Travel Awards 2022. This is the...
Cayman Airways reopens Sir Turtle Club lounge
Cayman Airways’ exclusive Sir Turtle Club Lounge at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman is once again open for business. The lounge, which is the only airline loyalty program lounge at the airport, had been closed since the start of the airport’s major...
Sandals sweeps WTAs
The 29th Annual World Travel Awards™ Caribbean & The Americas Gala made a dazzling return to an in person format on August 31 at Sandals Montego Bay, acknowledging, rewarding and celebrating excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality...
Jamaica, Kenya collab on MICE
Jamaica and Kenya have agreed to collaborate in the area of tourism in a bid to strengthen the hospitality sectors in both countries. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the partnership between both countries will entail collaboration between the...
Jamaica wins big at World Travel Awards
Continuing its remarkable winning streak, Jamaica has received three prestigious World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas 2022 at the Gala Ceremony held at Sandals Montego Bay on August 31. The island was named the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2022 for...
More Virgin flights for winter
For the first time ever, Virgin Atlantic will offer a daily flight to London, Heathrow from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Flights begin December 12, for the winter season. “I’m so excited by our now daily service from Montego Bay to London Heathrow, allowing more opportunity...
Jamaica hosts World Travel Awards
Jamaica will be the host destination for the prestigious World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America 2022 slated for August 31. The leading travel industry leaders and decision-makers from the Caribbean and Americas region will be attending the red-carpet gala...
Barbados gets TUI winter boost
TUI UK will increase flight capacity to Barbados for Winter 2022/23, soaring above the levels of their last full winter season to reach over 54,000 planned seats. Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Lisa Cummins made the announcement recently, noting that...
Regional tourism youth congress is back
After a COVID-19-forced two-year break, the Regional Tourism Youth Congress will be staged in the Cayman Islands on September 15. To date, 11 countries have confirmed their participation. This is the 18th year the congress is being held. It will be part of Caribbean...
21 artistes for Dominica’s creole music fest
There will be a star studded line-up of 21 artistes for the 22nd edition of Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival which will take place from October 28 – 30, 2022. The event, which will provide patrons with a mix of bouyon, cadence, kompa, zouk, dancehall, reggae and...
Turks and Caicos is HOT
The Turks and Caicos Islands is the world’s hottest travel destination for fall 2022, according to a new report from TripAdvisor. Based on behavioural data and a consumer sentiment survey, the newly released report showcased the Turks and Caicos Islands having the...
The evolution of service
Tourism isn’t what it used to be. Stakeholders in the industry are quick to point out that the sector has evolved, and so have those who work within it. It has long moved on from days of old when foreigners, typically not black, were served by genuflecting, tip-driven...
The art of service
When Rory Baugh was first offered the opportunity to be professionally trained as a butler he turned up his nose at the assignment. “I remember telling my GM back then, ‘This is not for me, I'm not shining anybody’s shoes. I want to be the manager with the big bunch...
Miss Carmen’s way
For Miss Carmen, things have to be done a certain way. That’s why she always puts freshly picked flowers on the tray with hot beverages she prepares for guests each morning. The 72-year-old has been with Round Hill Hotel & Villas for 55 years and she’s good at her...
Lavene Duncan— Autism advocate
When Lavene Duncan was contracted to work as a babysitter at Beaches Ocho Rios 20 years ago, she had no idea that one day she would be the one in charge of the property’s Kids’ Camp — and an advocate for autism. She did know, though, that she loved children and that...
From bartender to personal butler
ADRIAN Johnson cannot wait to be a personal butler. He sees it as a natural progression in a tourism career already highlighted by excellent service. For the last three years he’s been a bartender at The Cliff Hotel in Negril’s West End. “I’ve always provided...
Chantal’s in control
A white lab coat, gloves, protective goggles, and a hair net are all part of Chantal Williams’ uniform at work. She’s a product controller at Moon Palace Jamaica’s 35,000-square-feet Awe Spa, the largest in the Caribbean. Safety standards are never compromised and...
Underwater photographer: CRUISE CALLEN
Twenty-three-year-old Cruise Callen is having the time of his life. He’s the underwater photographer for the dive team at Sandals Ochi, not the typical role that comes to mind when one thinks of jobs in tourism. In helping guests capture memorable moments from their...
Crab racer
To say that Fitzroy Dobson loves his job would be an understatement. For the last 46 years he’s organised and provided radio-worthy commentary on crab races that have become somewhat of a fixture on the tourism scene in western Jamaica. His crustacean friends have...
The exquisite Cliff Hotel
From the moment you enter the warm and welcoming lobby of The Cliff Hotel in Negril’s West End, you can tell it’s going to be an exquisite experience. The signs are everywhere: the custom-made bamboo and mahoe chandelier, the slices of authentic life captured in...
Floating tiki bar
THINK sunny afternoon or breathtaking night-time cruises along the picturesque Negril coast, mixed with a party experience including signature cocktails, party host, DJs and on-board dance team. That’s the experience from Jamaica Tiki Party Charters. The...
Antigua & Barbuda’s steady rebound
Antigua and Barbuda’s steady tourism rebound continues for yet another month. Stayover tourism arrivals for July 2022 have topped the July 2019 pre-pandemic record. The Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism is reporting a growth in arrivals of seven per cent for the...
$6.9-m for cleaner coasts in Jamaica
Jamaica’s Tourism Enhancement (TEF) has invested approximately $6.9 million in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day initiative, which is spearheaded locally by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET). This year’s event, which is being hosted under the theme...
CHTA’s CHIEF Awards open for nominations
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is now taking nominations for its Caribbean Hotel Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) Awards, which recognise best practices in the areas of business operations, human resources, sales and marketing, and sustainability....
Courtleigh gets new GM
The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites in New Kingston, Jamaica has a new general manager, Kate Hendrickson-Chin. She is the daughter of owner/Managing Director, Kevin Hendrickson. The youngest daughter of the Hendrickson children, Hendrickson-Chin joined the family...
COMING SOON to Jamaica: ultralight aircraft
By the end of this year Jamaica will be able to add ultralight aircraft to its already impressive list of tourist attractions. It’s all being made possible through Amber Group’s historic launch of its aviation arm in Jamaica as part of the group of technology...
Caribbean artists for Virgin Atlantic gallery
Virgin Atlantic is putting local artists from the Caribbean at the forefront of its Upper Class experience thanks to its art gallery in the sky. Available throughout Virgin Atlantic’s fleet, the gallery will showcase some of the many incredible artists who hail...
CTO launches online courses
The Caribbean Tourism Organization has formally launched its Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Online Course, aimed at strengthening the regional sector through a broadening of the knowledge base and improvement of quality standards. The course, developed with the...
St Lucia’s StolenTime
One of St Lucia’s leading all-inclusive boutique resorts, Rendezvous, is re-launching as StolenTime by Rendezvous. The property has long been lauded for its StolenTime concept, a personal experience designed to help guests reconnect away from the pressures of everyday...
Tie the knot in Barbados
If getting married against the sumptuous backdrop of the Caribbean is your idea of perfection, then look no further than Barbados. Here you will first be swept away by the travel experience of a lifetime followed by the most romantic tropical paradise setting for a...
Jamaica boosts cultural tourism
The role of Jamaica’s first Prime Minister, National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante in enhancing the island’s cultural tourism product, has been boosted with the unveiling of a life-sized statue of him on the front lawn of the Hanover Parish Library in Lucea. The...
Tourism Ties: Jamaica & the Cayman Islands
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands have initiated discussions to facilitate collaboration on tourism, in order to leverage the strong historical ties and synergies between both nations to boost their tourism sectors. Among the areas being examined for cooperation are...
TUI to add more flights to Jamaica
One of the largest European travel and tourism conglomerates, TUI Group, has indicated its intention to expand its presence in Jamaica in summer 2023 with increased flights. The announcement was made in a meeting with one of its Senior Executives and Senior Jamaica...
Cayman Airways back in Montego Bay
Jamaica has welcomed back weekly service from Grand Cayman into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, by Cayman Airways. The flight, which arrived on August 4, marked the first time the carrier has operated this route since the pandemic. Its return...
Sandals fetes newbies in Antigua and Barbuda
Sandals Grande Antigua Resort has welcomed newly selected members of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) Travel Advisory Board with a bang. The trade partners spent five days in Antigua, familiarizing themselves with the newest destination updates, and...
Dominica’s first #1
For the first time ever, Dominica has been named the top island in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. It was named the top island in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. “We are incredibly honoured and elated to not only be a Travel + Leisure World’s Best...
Record number of tourism scholarships
The collective dreams of a record number of Caribbean students who are pursuing further education in tourism and related subjects are closer to becoming a reality with financial support from the region’s premier tourism education charity. Twelve applicants from ten...
Barbados bats on aviation
The time is right for Barbados to transform its tourism sector says the Caribbean island’s Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins. She is convinced that aviation must be at the forefront of that push. At the recent Barbados Aviation...
Cayman Islands to host CTO aviation confab
The Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism are partnering with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to host the organization’s Business Meetings from September 12-15, 2022. This conference will be the first major in-person event programme for the CTO....
Almost full recovery
Jamaica’s tourism sector has almost fully recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had threatened the very survival of the industry. The revelation was made by Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett during a meeting with members of a special delegation...
Reggae Sumfest boost
Jamaica’s tourism sector received a significant boost this summer due to its popular annual music festival, Reggae Sumfest, held from July 18-23. Dubbed ‘The Return’ because it was the first time the event has been staged in person since the pandemic, this year’s...
Airbnb, CTO launch campaign
Millions of people are now more flexible about where they live and work, and in response to this trend, Airbnb and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have launched their "Work from the Caribbean" campaign. This landing page is aimed at promoting...
Barbados pushes regional tourism
The island nation Barbados has established talks with several low-cost carrier charter airlines on setting up a regional route, according to Chairman of Tourism and Marketing Inc (BTMI), Shelly Williams. This is seen as good news for intra-regional travellers. “In the...
Jamaica takes 2 Travel + Leisure awards
Maintaining its place among the world’s leading tourism destinations, Jamaica has been recognised within two categories of the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2022. The destination has been rated among “The 25 Best Islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the...
Sandals EMPOWERING women in the Caribbean
The Sandals Foundation is committed to investments that create a positive and sustainable impact on its communities and surroundings, including the people who live there and call the Caribbean home. Recently, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International made...
Montego Bay is #1 for summer
Jamaica’s second city has been ranked the top summer travel recovery city of 2022. The revelation follows a summer travel Outlook Report that was produced for the World Travel Market (WTM) by travel trends and analysis provider, ForwardKeys. The summer travel outlook...
Tingalaya’s Retreat — serenity at its best
TUCKED into the windswept seaside cliffs of Negril’s West End is Tingalaya’s Retreat, an intimate hideaway perfect for those looking to rejuvenate by being one with nature. With eight cosy bungalows surrounded by lush greenery, the 4.5-acre private property is the...
LOCALS discover Round Hill Hotel & Villas
LONG held in high regard by global lovers of luxury, Round Hill Hotel & Villas is now firmly on the radar of local Jamaicans. The stunning property, nestled on a peninsula just inside the border of Hanover on the way from St James, caught the eye of Jamaicans...
Sandals Dunn’s River — SNEAK PEEK
IT’S never too early to start making plans for next summer. The good news is that the all-new, 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River — which is undergoing a thoughtful, top-to-bottom restoration — opens its doors in May 2023. Reservations were opened earlier this month, and...
Marguerites Seafood by the Sea
A cool summer getaway in Montego Bay isn’t complete without a romantic sunset dinner for two at local fine dining restaurant Marguerites Seafood by the Sea. The Jimmy Cliff Boulevard-based restaurant serves international cuisine that features freshly caught seafood...
Scotchies’ big move
Scotchies owner Tony Rerrie has finally got his hands on what he considers one of the best locations in Montego Bay. Within the next two months he expects to be operating his newest jerk centre from the thatch-roofed spot at Fairview Mall that once housed the popular...
Jamwest– just what you need
FOR adventure lovers looking to have a great time without breaking the bank this summer, Jamwest Motorsports and Adventure Park in Little London, Westmoreland, may be just what you need. Already with a solid reputation for providing hours of good, clean fun for the...
Skate City – party on wheels
YOUR summer is about to get a whole lot better with the host of fun activities being planned at Skate City, one of Montego Bay’s newest attractions. Dubbed a party on wheels for its thrilling indoor musical vibrations, owner Shawn “DJ Kentucky” Stewart intends to show...
The Rasta Safari Experience
HAVE you ever had a swim in the crystal clear waters of the Roaring River in Westmoreland? It’s a good way to cool off this summer and it’s just one of the fun things to do during the Rasta Safari Experience. What to expect: The tour begins with a welcome rum punch,...
They flew in for REGGAE SUMFEST
Back with a bang after a COVID-19-forced hiatus, Reggae Sumfest brought throngs of music lovers to Montego Bay last week. Our photographer Aceion Cunningham caught up with some of those who flew in for the event. We snapped this group from Finland inside the Red...
Treasure Beach celebrates Jamaica 60
Treasure Beach is set to celebrate Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary of Independence — on Saturday, August 6th — with a fun day, chock-full of activities for locals and international visitors alike. The day begins at 9:00 am with a boat parade launching in Fort Charles. Get...
Tapestry Collection by Hilton enters Caribbean
The new ROK Hotel Kingston, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is poised to build the city’s Downtown into a quintessential hospitality destination. The 168-room property, owned by PanJam Investment Limited and managed by Highgate, features 47 suites and promises to be an...
Bartlett bats for regional airline
Chairman of the OAS Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR) and Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett sees the need for an effective regional airline to boost tourism in the Caribbean. His call came at the opening session of the Organisation of American...
168-room ROK Hotel for Kingston
The newly developed ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston, Jamaica, opens its doors on July 19, a move seen as a boost to the revitalisation and redevelopment of the busy commercial district. Formerly the Oceana Hotel, the 168-room property is located on the corner of Ocean...
Higher than expected registrations for 40th Caribbean Travel Marketplace
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is reporting that registration for the highly anticipated 40th edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace is outpacing expectations as regional suppliers and global buyers prepare for a return to in-person business...
60 years of tourism in Jamaica
Tourism, Jamaica’s main economic engine, has grown exponentially since the island’s shedding of its colonial status on August 6, 1962. In fact, a closer look at numbers provided by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will show that the tourism sector has shown strong and...
Bahamas launches Junkanoo workshop
What better way to truly experience the spirit of the Bahamian culture than creating your very own “tricked out” Junkanoo costume piece and participating in a live Junkanoo rush out? The Bahamas Tourist Office Florida Sales Team hosted more than a dozen travel...
Jamaica looks to AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Jamaica’s source markets for tourists are being further expanded and diversified to include several countries in Africa and the Middle East. Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett said the Government has engaged counterpart officials and airline executives in those regions...
Tourism resilience on the agenda at OAS meeting
Jamaica will host a high-level policy forum of the Organisation of American States (OAS) from July 20-21, to focus on safeguarding the region’s tourism sector from disruptions, including a looming recession. “It relates primarily to building resilience among the small...
Nathalee Ramsay: On track at RED LANE®SPA
Nathalee Ramsay, like many other mothers of two young children, once grappled with the question: How do I find work that is fulfilling and near to home so that I can still be able to take care of my babies? That was 14 years ago and the answer was the food and...
Dominica is No. 1
Travel + Leisure has announced its World’s Best Awards list of winners for 2022 with Dominica ranking as the top island in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. This is the first time Dominica has copped the award. Travel + Leisure recognises the top hotels,...
More awards for Jamaica
With a continuing emphasis on being one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, Jamaica has been recognised with two 2022 WAVE (Western Advisors’ Vote of Excellence) Awards by TravelAge West. The destination has been awarded ‘Destination with the...
Training for Barbuda tourism players
For the next three days, tourism service providers in Barbuda will benefit from the D.E.E.R training programme being offered by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. It runs from July 12 –14. D.E.E.R (Delivering Exceptional Experiences Repeatedly) is specifically...
Investment opportunities in Jamaica’s tourism sector
From Westmoreland to Portland, Jamaica is ripe with investment opportunities in the tourism sector. That was the message Prime Minister Andrew Holness had for a delegation of more than 70 private sector players and government officials from Saudi Arabia who were in...
Marguerites wins ‘Oscars for wines’… again
Marguerites Seafood by the Sea, one of Montego Bay’s most talked about fine-dining restaurant, has received the prestigious Wine Spectator Award for 2022. This is the seventh time it has won the award. Chairman and CEO of Margaritaville Caribbean Group, which owns and...
Caribbean ranks high in incentive market
The Caribbean is high on the list of preferred destinations for the incentive travel market out of the US, according to the most recent data from the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Global. “At the moment, the destination that North Americans are most...
BOOK NOW: Sandals Dunn’s River
In honour of the late, legendary Gordon “Butch” Stewart’s birthday, Sandals Resorts International (SRI) on June 6 began accepting reservations for the fully renovated Sandals Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios. The resort will welcome guests on May 24, 2023. “Today is marked...
70+ potential investors eye Jamaica
A delegation of more than 70 private sector players and government officials from Saudi Arabia will arrive in Jamaica on July 8, the largest ever delegation of potential investors from the Middle East that the Caribbean island has ever welcomed at any one time. The...
Artisans welcome festivals
THE return of tourism-driven events in Jamaica is being endorsed by two local artisans who showcased their brands at the recent staging of the Jamaica Rum Festival. Paige Garnett, the owner of candle and ceramics company Zanesia, is most grateful for the opportunity...
50 Years of martial bliss
On midday Saturday March 4, 1972 Steven Crandall took Christine Fuller to be his wife. Then 50 years later on Friday March 4, 2022 almost to the hour, they renewed their vows at the Sandals Ochi Beach Resort. With a broad smile on his face, Steven beamed as the pastor...
Love stood the test of time, and the pandemic
Theirs is a love affair that started in May of 2016 in England and nurtured along the way at Sandals resorts in Jamaica and Barbados, then blossomed beautifully in marital bliss in March 2022 at the Sandals Royal Plantation (SRP). Lee and Demi Martin built an...
St Mary gets ready
Cookshop operator Audley Kidd can’t wait to introduce Jamaica, through its food, to visitors who arrive at the Ian Fleming International Airport (IFIA). He has a reputation, in Oracabessa — the closest town to the airport, for serving up mouth-watering turn cornmeal;...
Dads in Tourism
On this last day of June, the month when fathers around the globe are recognised for the role they play in shaping their children’s lives, we catch up with fathers who work directly and indirectly within the tourism industry. • Edmund Bartlett speaks of the impact his...
Search for happiness
WHEN Edmund Bartlett was 46, his daughter Lisa Simone died after a valiant battle with cystic fibrosis. Since then he’s been on a quest to recreate the joyful moments of her life. “It certainly made me see how fully you must live your life while you have it, and...
Listen, hear, nurture
DONOVAN White prides himself on his ability to truly listen. It’s a skill that’s been particularly important over the last four and half years in his role as director of tourism, leading a team of 160 in Jamaica and beyond. “Sometimes we listen, but we don't hear. We...
Just be there
HAVING raised two adult children, David Dobson knows how important it is to be there for them. In fact, his advice to new dads is to take time off from work when the baby arrives. Dobson is chief technical director in the Ministry of Tourism, second in line after the...
Chef Claudio & Liam
THE first time Claudio Facchinetti ventured out alone with his son he made sure he grabbed the diaper bag, an absolute necessity for any successful outing with a small child. There was just one problem: the bag was empty. “I forgot the diapers and the soother and...
The seaman’s son
DEINO Campbell is hoping his son, Caleb, will continue the family tradition of a life on the high seas. Caleb is only six months old but his father already sees him, all grown up, at the helm of a luxury yacht or one of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s majestic...
SANDALS ROYAL CURAÇAO: Where amazing comes together
Sandals Resorts marked its venture into the vibrant culture and colours of the Dutch Caribbean with an enchanting grand opening celebration at Sandals Royal Curaçao headlined by the island’s most captivating performers. This included the highly anticipated return of...
Villa on the water
THE HRH Mimosa is being dubbed the villa on the water by some who’ve experienced even a taste of what it has to offer. The 55-foot Sea Ray Sedan Bridge vessel is outfitted with some of the most well-appointed amenities that can be found on any vessel this side of the...
AA flights for Ian Fleming Airport
The Jamaican Government’s push to lure higher-end travellers into the island through the Ian Fleming International Airport will be boosted, come November, when American Airlines joins the list of airlines that have already added the Boscobel location to their...
Wedding market BOOST from Tampa flight
Frontier Airlines’ first flight ever from Tampa to Montego Bay is expected to bode well for Jamaica, especially the wedding segment of the country’s tourism market. “This flight is a new market, Tampa. We’ve never had flights out of that northern portion of Florida...
JTB picks up two awards
The Jamaica Tourist Board copped two prestigious awards at the recent 2022 Baxter Agents’ Choice Awards which brought together the who’s who of the Canadian travel industry. The JTB was named “Favourite Tourist Board - Caribbean” and “Favourite Destination -...
Dom Rep to host cruise conference
The Dominican Republic will host the 2022 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference from October 11-14. It will take place in Santo Domingo. The only official cruise conference representing the Caribbean, Mexico as well as Central and South...
TUI agents get familiar with Jamaica
Visits to 14 attractions across Jamaica were enough to remind a team of 20 TUI UK travel agents of all the fun their clients can have on vacation. The familiarisation trip is part of TUI’s investment in the destination, which will include training throughout the...
Tourism jobs coming back, says CHTA
WITH some 2.35 million tourism workers across the Caribbean back on the job after being impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic the region is set to steadily recover to the record levels of 2019 according to president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association...
Summer’s looking good!
BUOYED by data showing an already “robust demand for the Caribbean” ahead of the 2022 season, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig is confident the region will experience a great summer. “We are really excited to see...
Fashion Forward: New look Sandals® Resorts uniforms
Haute fashion meets hospitality, as Sandals Resorts continues its 40th Anniversary celebrations by commissioning renowned fashion designer Stan Herman to reimagine the uniforms across its illustrious resort portfolio. A tribute to the team members forming the soul of...
Guidelines for Caribbean’s coral reef
The first ever guide to coral reef restoration designed specifically for the tourism sector has been created. It’s a collaborative effort by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and the United Nations Environment Programme...
Bartlett bats for Caricom single-visa regime
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett says a single-visa regime among Caricom member countries should be the next critical consideration in rationalising entry protocols in the region. “[This is] for touristic purposes and can be provided for visitors coming...
UPDATE: Tourism Workers Pension Scheme
Since being launched in February, more than 5,000 workers in Jamaica’s tourism sector have contributed almost $90 million to the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS). Meanwhile, there are more than 15,000 applications pending from others who wish to join. Minister of...
WTTC offers advice on resilience
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has highlighted five elements destinations should focus on to build both resilience and long-term sustainability: environment, infrastructure, energy, economic, and societal resilience. They were presented in a...
Future proofing the tourism industry
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett will be part of a high-level panel discussion on ways to future-proof the international tourism industry so that it can withstand global shocks. The talks, which will be held on June 22, are part of the Commonwealth...
OPEN: Ian Fleming Airport
The start of scheduled international commercial flights into the Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St Mary has been hailed as a significant milestone in Jamaica’s aviation and tourism industries. “The presence today of the inaugural flight from a...
Sandals Foundation answers: Could You Be Loved?
Three-time Grammy winner Cedella Marley has given rise to a new version of “Could You Be Loved”, her father Bob Marley’s classic song. Cedella Marley’s portion of this single’s proceeds will benefit Women Helping Others Achieve (WHOA), a women’s empowerment programme...
One million and counting
First-time visitor to Jamaica, Brian Simmons on June 15 became the country’s one millionth stopover arrival for 2022 and to mark the milestone he has been given an all-expenses-paid return trip for his next visit. Simmons landed at Montego Bay’s Sangster International...
BIG AWARD for Appleton Estate’s Joy Spence
The world’s first female Master Blender, Dr Joy Spence, has achieved yet another first in her illustrious and trailblazing career. On June 9 she became the first Caribbean Master Blender to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Distilled Spirits...
Falmouth Mystic: MORE TO COME
When Rasheed Williams decided to put his first boat into the waters of Falmouth's famous Luminous Lagoon in 2012, he knew he had to do something different. Already there were a number of other vessels ferrying visitors and locals to experience the jaw-dropping sight...
Cayman Islands to host major CTO event
The Cayman Islands will be the venue for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) first major in-person event since the pandemic. The CTO’s Business Meetings will be held from September 12-15. The Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism have partnered with...
Jamaica to fill 10,000 cruise jobs
As Jamaica’s ministry of tourism moves to tap into the local labour force to identify, recruit and deploy at least 10,000 of 90,000 workers required in the global cruise industry, care is being taken to ensure there is no negative impact on the local hospitality...
BA marks 60 years in Antigua
Spirits were high at a cocktail reception hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority to mark British Airways 60th anniversary of flying to Antigua. Cultural dancers and the melodious sounds of a steel band set...
40 MILLION BOTTLES: Recycling goal
A partnership between the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ) to reduce plastic pollution in resort areas will see about 40 million bottles collected each year. Since the pilot, which took place in October 2021, several...
More for smaller players, promises Bartlett
Pointing to the huge difference between how much value small and medium sized players bring to the tourism sector and how much they earn from it, Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is on a mission to narrow the gap. Among the initiatives planned to...
SCUBA GENIE: Nickardo Dennis
Nickardo Dennis has always loved being in the water. No surprise, then, that he became a dive instructor. He’s known as the Scuba Genie. His love of the ocean is hereditary. Growing up in the seaside community of Belmont in Westmoreland, Dennis is a third-generation...
US$265 million resort for Jamaica
A 250-room luxury resort and 23 residences nestled amongst towering 200-year-old fig and banyan trees at Mammee Bay in Jamaica is slated to debut in late 2024. The project is estimated to be a US$265 million investment. It is the first property being...
Sandals Unveils Royal Curaçao
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has opened its 16th Sandals Resort, Sandals Royal Curaçao, racking up a number of firsts in the process. The resort company’s debut in the Dutch Caribbean sets in motion entirely new and innovative ways to experience the...
MICE Americas returns to Cuba
For four days in June, up to 50 participants will gather in Cuba for the 24th edition of the oldest B2B MICE tradeshow of the Americas & Caribbean, MITM Americas. The gathering of players interested in the Meetings & Incentive Travel Market will take place in...
Anguilla’s warm welcome
Stakeholders from various sectors of Anguilla’s tourist industry are working with the local tourist board to give visitors a welcome they won’t soon forget. Twice a month, on the busiest arrival days at the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport (CJLIA) and the Blowing...
Caribbean hoteliers upbeat
Caribbean tourism is doing well, thanks to a combination of pent-up traveller demand, eased travel restrictions, flight availability and good deals. According to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), a tourism renaissance is well underway in the region,...
GIVING BACK: Smiles in Ocho Rios
Bright smiles were the order of the day in and around the resort town of Ocho Rios after more than 300 local residents were treated to world class dental care. It was a great example of how tourism players give back to their local communities. Under the Spring Sealant...
More local talent for Jamaica
Entertainment managers and local hotel talent scouts will soon have access to a wider pool of Western Jamaica-based talent in the performing arts. Fifty-two individuals recently completed a month-long series of training sessions through the Level Up Performing Arts...
Jamaica voted best tourist board
Jamaica has the best tourist board, and it has the award to prove it. The destination copped the prize at the recent TravelPulse Canada 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the third time Jamaica has won the category. The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) was in great...
S HOTEL FIRST: driving simulator
Imagine being able to rev your engines, well virtually at least, while looking out your window at the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea from your hotel room. Now you can. On May 26 a driving simulator was installed in the Sky Loft suite of the S Hotel located...
MICE: first hit, last to recover
“You have to realise that what gets affected first, and is going to be the last to recover, is really corporate MICE travel,” says groups and conventions manager at the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Woolcock, as he explains the impact COVID-19 has had on that segment of...
Montego Bay Convention Centre: They do it all
When the Montego Bay Convention Centre opened its doors in 2011, it took a while to convince Jamaicans that the venue was something they actually needed. As the facility’s director of sales and events, Mavoy Smith-Robb explains, “Jamaicans like hotels, they like to...
Jamaica Conference Centre: Where decisions are made
Built 39 years ago to house and host the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the Jamaica Conference Centre has morphed into so much more. It still welcomes the ISA twice per year but today it’s also seen as a prime location for everything from intimate gatherings...
AC Hotel Kingston: Easy access, maximum comfort
Ever since opening its doors in 2019, AC Hotel Kingston has made an impact on the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) market. And it has no intention of letting up. “We are one of the biggest hotel-based event venues in Jamaica. Designed to cater...
Plantation Smokehouse heads to Kingston
BY the first week of June, foodies in Kingston who have long-craved easier access to Plantation Smokehouse will have just that as the St Ann-based eatery will open a location at 33 Constant Spring Road. It’s a bold move by owner Alywn “Brown Speed” Brown but he thinks...
Terra Nova takes it up a notch
Known for its large conference rooms in a city bustling with business tourism, it’s no surprise that 80 per cent of guests at Kingston’s Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel fall into the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) niche of the tourism market....
5 days, 100 booths, 1,000 guests
REGISTRATION is now open for the first-ever World Free Zone Conference Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) to be held in Jamaica, which will take place at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from June 13-17. For five days delegates from around the...
TEF bats for SMEs in tourism sector
THE Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), through its Tourism Linkages Network division, will host its first Business Development Information Session for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) on June 8 at Jamaica Pegasus hotel. “The actual drivers of tourism...
World MICE Awards unveils nominees
From June 1 to August 26 professionals in the MICE market and their clients will vote for the brands they deem the very best in the industry. This comes on the heels of World MICE Awards’ (WMA) unveiling of the list of nominees for 2022. The WMA is a global initiative...
Turks and Caicos sees big jump in arrivals
Buoyed by impressive visitor arrival figures for the first quarter of 2022, Turks and Caicos tourism officials say they are well on the way to a full recovery. Preliminary data has shown a big jump in tourists making their way to the destination by sea and air. There...
TEF pumps $7 m into health care
Residents and visitors who find themselves in need of services provided at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Jamaica will be happy to know that the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has been working to help improve services there. “The contribution will enhance [the...
Carnival’s $200-m Bahamas cruise port
Carnival’s new $200 million cruise port in Freeport, Grand Bahama is expected to breathe new tourism life into the economy of the Bahamian nation’s second city. Government officials and cruise line executives recently gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony....
LOVE LANE is back
For the entire month of June, couples visiting Antigua and Barbuda will be showered with an extra dose of love as the destination celebrates its popular Romance Month. As part of the festivities, the country’s Tourism Authority in partnership with its Airport...
Legendary: John Bell lauded
John Bell, the first Executive Director of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), has been honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS), which he was instrumental in launching. The...
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More from Frontier
American low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has announced plans to expand its relationship with Jamaica by...
Kevin Hendrickson is Caribbean Hotelier of the Year
Distinguished Jamaican hotelier and businessman Kevin Hendrickson has been declared Caribbean Hotelier of...
US$5.7 billion: Jamaica’s earning since reopening
After months of closure following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Jamaica’s...
Weathering any storm
Resilience. It’s a word that comes up in almost every discussion about the tourism industry these...
Your Next Adventure Awaits
Discover the top things to do in Jamaica
Homecoming Tour
by LTC Writer
It’s an almost two-decades-old tradition. A group of hardworking Jamaicans living in Florida spend five relaxing days at one of the Sandals Resorts across the Caribbean. By the end of their trip, they vote on which property they will visit the next year. It’s the Duke...
The exquisite Cliff Hotel
From the moment you enter the warm and welcoming lobby of The Cliff Hotel in Negril’s West End, you can tell it’s going to be an exquisite experience. The signs are everywhere: the custom-made bamboo and mahoe chandelier, the slices of authentic life captured in...
St Lucia’s StolenTime
by LTC Writer
One of St Lucia’s leading all-inclusive boutique resorts, Rendezvous, is re-launching as StolenTime by Rendezvous. The property has long been lauded for its StolenTime concept, a personal experience designed to help guests reconnect away from the pressures of everyday...
Tingalaya’s Retreat — serenity at its best
TUCKED into the windswept seaside cliffs of Negril’s West End is Tingalaya’s Retreat, an intimate hideaway perfect for those looking to rejuvenate by being one with nature. With eight cosy bungalows surrounded by lush greenery, the 4.5-acre private property is the...
LOCALS discover Round Hill Hotel & Villas
LONG held in high regard by global lovers of luxury, Round Hill Hotel & Villas is now firmly on the radar of local Jamaicans. The stunning property, nestled on a peninsula just inside the border of Hanover on the way from St James, caught the eye of Jamaicans...
Sandals Dunn’s River — SNEAK PEEK
by LTC Writer
IT’S never too early to start making plans for next summer. The good news is that the all-new, 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River — which is undergoing a thoughtful, top-to-bottom restoration — opens its doors in May 2023. Reservations were opened earlier this month, and...