In celebration of its 70th anniversary, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) pulled out all the stops recently with a spectacular on-island immersive experience for 70 of its top-producing travel advisors from the U.S. Northeast Region—Jamaica’s most significant source market.
The itinerary included a dynamic Destination Presentation & Supplier Trade Show at the newly opened Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Hanover, where industry partners such as Sandals Resorts, Half Moon, Couples Resorts, Rick’s Cafe and Dolphin Cove interacted directly with the travel advisors.
Carlos Perez-Villa, an executive at Princess Hotels & Resorts made a spirited impression with his heartfelt greeting of ‘Jah Rastafari!’ as he welcomed attendees to the brand’s latest jewel in Jamaica’s tourism crown. Also present was JTB’s Deputy Director of Tourism, Philip Rose, who flew in from Miami to inspire the group.
“My title may say Jamaica Tourist Board, but I work for the people of Jamaica,” Rose declared passionately. “You are not just sellers of travel—you are the bridge between your clients’ dreams and what could be their realities,” he shared.
Rose urged travel specialists to push harder in the year ahead, noting, “We have a lot more rooms opening. We have a lot more airline seats coming into the destination. And we can’t do this without you.”
The immersive trip featured a two-night stay at the eco-conscious Grand Palladium, known for its 540-room layout designed in harmony with nature. Advisors also toured iconic properties including the Rockhouse Hotel, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Deja All Inclusive Resort, Negril Palms and Skylark Negril Beach Resort, capping that leg of the journey with a scenic lunch at Jamwest Motorsports & Adventure Park.
The final two days were spent at Princess Grand Jamaica and Princess Senses The Mangrove, twin luxury resorts that officially opened their doors in November 2024. Princess Grand Jamaica offers 590 family-friendly suites nestled between Montego Bay and Negril, while Princess Senses The Mangrove caters to adults with 401 ocean-view suites and 14 exclusive overwater villas featuring infinity pools and glass-floor panels.
The celebration climaxed on a high note at a festive island party at the Princess Grand, where Director of Sales & Marketing Kareen Hall stunned attendees by gifting each with a complimentary three-night vacation for two. The unexpected giveaway, dubbed ‘an Oprah moment’ by travel advisor Frances Ackon of Frances Elite Travels Inc, sparked jubilant cheers and a few emotional tears across the group.
Another notable highlight was the orchestration of several remote radio broadcasts featuring the travel specialists and JTB executives. These special segments aired on stations in the Northeast U.S. and South Florida markets, including WAVS 1170 AM; Supa Jamz Radio; Roadblock Radio, WCBS 101.1 HD3 (NY Tri-State) + WMXJ 102.7 HD3 (South Florida) and Winner’s Circle Radio, HOT 97.1FM, HD3, extending the reach and impact of the 70th anniversary celebration.
The immersive event formed part of a broader slate of global commemorations and underscored the vital role of travel advisors in promoting the island. With over 12,000 certified Jamaica Travel Specialists in the Northeast alone, the region consistently delivers the highest number of annual arrivals to the destination.
“This was an opportunity to celebrate with our top travel specialists—and it just happens that the Northeast USA is our top production region,” said Victoria Harper, District Sales Manager, JTB Northeast. She welcomed the advisors at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa during a lively Partner Breakfast that kicked off the multi-day event.
Harper, along with JTB executives, shared updates on the island’s growing tourism portfolio, including hotel expansions, new attractions, and enhanced visitor experiences aimed at keeping Jamaica at the forefront of Caribbean travel.
The event not only honored the advisors’ commitment to Jamaica’s tourism success but also deepened their firsthand knowledge of the island’s evolving offerings—equipping them to promote the destination with renewed passion and confidence.
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