Inaugural Jamaica Travel Market Held with Flying Colors

The inaugural Jamaica Travel Market, a two-day trade show in Luton which attracted over 100 travel professionals, including UK and European buyers representing airlines, tour operators and travel agencies, has been hailed a success by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

The Warren Weir suite at the Luton Hoo Hotel was a hub of activity between September 29 and 30 as the UK leisure and tour industry buyers met face to face with 22 Jamaican suppliers who came in for the event.

Among the Jamaican contingent were representatives from Half Moon, Jamaica Inn, Palace Resorts, Sandals Resorts International, Couples, Jewels, Round Hill and Kiuki Leisure Tours.

The travel professionals also participated in the interactive workshops which were hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board to highlight Destination Jamaica which promoted the island’s offering for weddings, honeymoons and group travel.

Describing the first staging of the unique travel market as a resounding success, Mr. Bartlett said: “We wanted a discrete market emporium which would give us a more personal attention to our buyers but also to get results that we could work with.

“The problem with some of the bigger and busier market place is that you spend a lot of time soliciting business, but with this concept, buyers are coming to you and the likelihood of concluding contracts is much higher. However, there will be a need for a broader European travel discussions and the JTB will be back at the World Travel Market in November.”

The highpoint of the Jamaica Travel Market was the gala awards dinner on Thursday, September 29 which honored a number of travel agents and tour operators who promoted Jamaica as a destination among their clients. Mr. Bartlett, who was the keynote speaker at the gala dinner, handed out the awards along with Jamaica Tourist Board’s Regional Director UK and Europe, Elizabeth Fox.

Six awards were handed out on the night and Sackville Travel, a leading specialist Caribbean destination travel agency, picked up one of the major ones after it was voted ‘Largest growth by a UK Travel Agency/Tour Operator in 2015’.

Receiving the award for Sackville Travel was Marketing Director Laverne Walker who said the accolade was a reflection for the tremendous year the agency had, both for flight and accommodation bookings.

She said: “We are pleased that Sackville Travel can be instrumental in providing growth in tourism for Jamaica which in turn provides employment and benefits to the economy of Jamaica. Since established in 1976, Sackville Travel have continued to work closely with the airlines flying to this region to get the best air fares for our customers especially in the off peak season, making it easier for families to return home and first time visitors to enjoy the destination.”

Mr. Bartlett used his speech to emphasize that Jamaica’s tourism product was bucking the trend with increased arrivals over the last 12 months and also increased investments and expansion in the hotel industry which will make more rooms available as more airline routes open up to the island.

Source: The Voice