Jamaica shines at World Travel Awards as tourism recovery takes center stage
Key Points(5)
- The ceremony, held as part of World Travel Week Jamaica, saw Jamaica named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination, while the Jamaica Tourist Board won Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board.
- Jamaican hotels, attractions and travel companies also collected national and regional awards, with host property Princess Grand Jamaica winning Caribbean’s Leading Resort and Caribbean’s Leading Conference Hotel.
- Its sister property, Princess Senses The Mangrove, won Caribbean’s Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort and Caribbean’s Leading Water Villa Resort, among other honors.
- Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett used the occasion to highlight the importance of resilience to the industry’s future, welcoming the introduction of the first Global Resilience Award during the week.
- “We’re excited about that because it signals the embrace of the global resilience fund,” Bartlett said.
Jamaica secured several major regional honors at the 2026 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony on Sunday, as tourism leaders gathered at Princess Grand Jamaica in Hanover to celebrate excellence in the industry and discuss the resilience of destinations recovering from major disasters.
The 33rd edition of the awards returned to Jamaica after more than a decade, bringing international tourism representatives to the island as part of World Travel Week Jamaica, a six-day program running from October 10 to 15.
Jamaica was named Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination, while the Jamaica Tourist Board won Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board. The country also collected awards for Caribbean’s Leading Cultural Destination, Caribbean’s Leading Family Travel Destination, Caribbean’s Leading Festival & Event Destination, and Caribbean’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination.
Jamaica-founded Sandals Resorts International and its Beaches brand collected 17 awards, while host company Princess Hotels & Resorts secured eight across its two Hanover properties.
The ceremony also highlighted the industry’s efforts to rebuild following Hurricane Melissa, with Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett pointing to Jamaica’s recovery prospects and the growing international focus on tourism resilience.
Bartlett highlights tourism resilience
Bartlett welcomed the introduction of the first Global Resilience Award during the week, saying it reflected growing recognition of the importance of resilience in tourism.
“We’re excited about that because it signals the embrace of the global resilience fund,” he said.
The minister also highlighted Jamaica’s recovery from major disasters, saying the country ranked among the world’s leading destinations in its ability to recover during the first year after a major event, from the first day through the 12-month mark.
His remarks came as the island continued rebuilding its tourism sector following Hurricane Melissa, which damaged hotels and other tourism infrastructure across several resort areas.
Bartlett projected that 88% of Jamaica’s hotel-room stock would be operational for the upcoming winter tourist season. The projection comes as the country works to restore properties and return rooms to service ahead of the peak travel period.
The Jamaica Information Service reported in September that more than 11,000 hotel rooms were expected to return to the island’s tourism inventory across 2026 and 2027. At the time, officials said approximately 70% of the sector’s recovery had been achieved, with further reopenings planned through the end of the year and into early 2027.
Airlift is also expected to increase. Jamaica has secured more than 1.3 million airline seats for the January-to-April 2027 winter tourist season, representing a 23.5% increase over the same period in 2026.
Princess highlights US$400 million investment
The awards ceremony took place at Princess Grand Jamaica in Green Island, Hanover, where Princess Hotels & Resorts welcomed international tourism representatives for the event.
At the welcome reception, Kimoya Case, director of operations at Princess Hotels & Resorts Jamaica, delivered the official welcome, expressing pride in the resort’s role in hosting an occasion that recognizes excellence across the tourism industry.
Marc Pelfort, the company’s regional director of sales and marketing, also addressed guests, highlighting the company’s return to Jamaica after a decade and its investment in the destination.
Pelfort said the Spanish family-owned company had invested more than US$400 million in its Green Island development, which employs more than 1,000 people.
Princess Senses The Mangrove, the group’s adults-only all-inclusive property, features 14 overwater villas. The resort complex adds to the range of accommodation and visitor experiences available in Hanover.
The company’s presence in Jamaica is also expanding into casino gaming. Adamas Grand Casino Limited received the country’s first casino operator’s license in July, clearing the way for operations at Princess Grand Jamaica. The development is expected to add another entertainment offering to the resort as Jamaica pursues investment in integrated tourism projects.
The reception also featured remarks from Talia Soares Brown and representatives of World Travel Awards, including Katie Jensen. Graham Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards, attended the ceremony.
Jamaican tourism businesses collect regional awards
Princess Grand Jamaica won Caribbean’s Leading Resort and Caribbean’s Leading Conference Hotel, while Princess Senses The Mangrove was named Caribbean’s Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort. The latter also won Caribbean’s Leading Water Villa Resort and Caribbean’s Leading Wedding Resort.
Sandals Resorts International was named Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand, while Sandals Dunn’s River won Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort. Other properties across the Sandals and Beaches portfolio also collected awards.
Sangster International Airport retained Caribbean’s Leading Airport, extending its winning streak to 18 consecutive years. The recognition came less than a year after Hurricane Melissa forced the Montego Bay airport to close.
Club Mobay, operated by VIP Attractions, was named Caribbean’s Leading Airport Lounge.
Other Jamaican winners included Strawberry Hill, named Jamaica’s Leading Boutique Hotel; the Presidential Suite at Princess Senses The Mangrove, which won Jamaica’s Leading Hotel Suite; and S Hotel Kingston, named Jamaica’s Leading Business Hotel.
Beaches Negril won Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort, while Sandals Ochi took Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort. Jamaica Inn was named Jamaica’s Leading Honeymoon Resort, and Island Car Rentals won Jamaica’s Leading Car Rental Company.
GO! Jamaica Travel won Jamaica’s Leading Travel Agency, as well as Caribbean’s Leading Travel Agency and Caribbean’s Leading Tour Operator.
In the regional categories, Half Moon won Caribbean’s Leading Hotel, while The Tryall Club took Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Residences. Round Hill Hotel and Villas was named Jamaica’s Leading Luxury Resort, GoldenEye won Jamaica’s Leading Boutique Resort, and Rose Hall Great House Tour received Jamaica’s Leading Tourist Attraction award.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures won Caribbean’s Leading Destination Experiences, while Chukka Ocean Outpost was named Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction for the second consecutive year.
The awards provided a platform for Jamaica to showcase its tourism offerings to regional and international industry leaders while recognizing businesses contributing to the Caribbean’s standing as a global travel destination.
World Travel Week Jamaica continues through October 15, with additional international award programs recognizing achievements across meetings and events, travel technology, cruising, social media, culinary tourism and other areas of the visitor economy.
