JTB product showcase a “phenomenal” success as 600 journey execs tune in

The Jamaica Vacationer Board (JTB) welcomed 600 journey advisors from throughout Canada and the United States for a day of schooling, inspiration, and networking throughout its Digital Product Showcase on Dec. 7.

Hosted on Zoom, the immersive expertise opened with vacation spot updates from the JTB’s Canadian gross sales staff, a quick overview on the Jamaica Journey Specialist program, and a presentation on Jamaica’s all-new “Come Again” advertising marketing campaign.  

Attracting a record-breaking variety of members, the session was the third Digital Product Showcase hosted by the JTB Canada staff and the primary version open to U.S. brokers.

READ MORE: Jamaica launches “Come Again” advert marketing campaign in Canada

Donnie Dawson, Jamaica’s Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, joined the occasion to share a message of gratitude to the journey advisor group.

“During the last two years, Jamaica’s Canadian and U.S. gross sales groups have accomplished an amazing job getting our message on the market, however we’d not be the place we’re in the present day with out the assist of journey advisors,” mentioned Dawson.

“We thanks for the work you do, and we look ahead to your continued assist. Let’s make Jamaica the primary vacation spot for this upcoming winter season.”

Through the three-hour session, journey advisors heard from 30 top-tier journey companions from North America and Jamaica.

Taking part suppliers included Canadian airways and tour operators, main resort chains, smaller boutique lodges and villas, and on-island points of interest and tour corporations.

Brokers additionally had the chance to attach with representatives in interactive breakout classes to be taught extra about their distinctive choices and incentive packages.

“Jamaica has a brand new message: it’s time to come back again,” mentioned Angella Bennett, regional director, Canada, JTB.

Bennett shared Jamaica’s recent advertising marketing campaign and gave brokers an outline of the nation’s sturdy restoration.

“Since Jamaica reopened in June 2020, the vacation spot has welcomed 5.7 million guests producing $5.7 billion USD in tourism income. We now have roughly 8,000 new rooms slated for building on the island within the subsequent two to 5 years. In 2023, we’ll see the completion of a brand new 2,000-room Princess Resort in Hanover, the 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River, and a 700-room RIU Resort in Falmouth.”

Talking with PAX after the occasion, Bennett referred to as this yr’s showcase “phenomenal.”

“It was completely improbable to see the response in direction of Jamaica and all of the companions, lodges, and airways introduced,” she mentioned.

Bennett was very impressed by how engaged journey advisors had been throughout the presentation. The typical participant, she mentioned, remained on-line between one to 2.5 hours.

“There’s a lot curiosity in Jamaica this winter,” she mentioned.

Jamaica’s state of emergency

Earlier this week, PAX
spoke with Bennett to get a clearer sense of what Jamaica’s present “state of emergency” order means for tourism.

Bennet described the measure as a “strategic transfer” by the Jamaica authorities to handle gang-related violence and crimes in sure areas inside the group.

“It’s actually to assist residents have a safer atmosphere to stay in and lift their youngsters,” she mentioned, noting how the nation’s scorching spots for crime will not be close to main tourism zones.

READ MORE:
Jamaica has declared a state of emergency. The JTB’s Angella Bennett explains what this implies

Jamaica’s total crime charge, in respect to crimes in opposition to vacationers, stays very low at simply 0.002 per cent, based on the newest stats from the Jamaica Constabulary Drive.

That’s inside a inhabitants of two.8 million individuals. “Which places issues into perspective,” Bennett mentioned.

In an announcement Monday (Dec. 12), Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, assured travellers that Jamaica stays a secure vacation spot.

“The improved safety measures being applied are a deliberate technique by our authorities to take proactive steps to take care of a secure and safe Jamaica for all law-abiding residents and vacationers,” Minister Bartlett mentioned. “These enhanced measures apply to restricted areas in Jamaica and the overwhelming majority of the island’s resort areas will not be impacted.”

“Jamaica stays a secure place for travellers and the statistics replicate this reality…Guests can proceed to come back to our island with confidence and revel in all that the vacation spot has to supply.”

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