FAMILY RESORTS in DEMAND for CHRISTMAS, but Jamaicans Are Late Bookers!
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HospitalityThe Gleaner Jamaica KEEPING YOU CONNECTED TO THE BUSINESS OF TOURISM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 FAMILY RESORTS IN DEMAND FOR CHRISTMAS, but Jamaicans are late bookers! Upgraded Lyssons Beach Passenger numbers could double officially opened to 8.2 billion in 2037 FAMILY RESORTS IN DEMAND FOR CHRISTMAS, but Jamaicans are late bookers! Holiday Inn in Montego Bay Janet Silvera revealed that her resorts were Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator doing very well for Christmas. “Traditionally, there is greater AMAICANS ARE known to go into panic mode just before demand for the family hotels for JChristmas after being hit with this particular holiday than our the fact they are left with very few adults-only (AO), which is choices of accommodation for the understandable. However, we do holidays. see an increase in sales for the “Usually, persons tend to book AO closer to arrival date,” their Christmas stays about two stated Linton. weeks before and then start According to her, RIU is pacing panicking when they realise they ahead of last year in all seven don’t have much to choose from,” resorts on the island and has been travel expert Dave Chin Tung of fully booked for both Christmas Go Jamaica Travel tells and New Year in Ocho Rios since Hospitality Jamaica. October. He says he is already seeing With Ocho Rios being the increased interest for resorts such obvious choice for vacationers, Moon Palace, Hyatt Ziva, Royalton Linton said the demand was being Riu Montego Bay PHOTO COURTESY OF RIU HOTELS White Sands, Holiday Inn, and diverted to their second favourite Hedonism II. “the hotels in Montego Bay”. “Even with the five-night This is not unusual for the brand, to and rest while the entire family percentages in the high 80s. date December 1-23, as the summer minimum stay at Moon Palace, the and in the past few years, she said, has fun.” That figure, she said, is coupled rates are still very attractive for the numbers are up for locals who are they have noticed consistent In Trelawny at the Meliá Braco with healthy rates from the family market over those dates. spending Christmas in a resort,” incremental business from the local Village, another favourite for international markets – USA, For the Couples group of resorts, said Chin Tung. market during this period. families, bookings for the holiday Canada and Europe. although their most popular His comments were bolstered by “It’s a family affair, and the season, director of sales and According to Bennett, Meliá properties for locals are Tower Isle director of sales at RIU Resorts beautiful thing is that grandma and marketing, Angella Bennett, says, is Braco is anticipating the local market and Negril, Alex Ghisays, director Jamaica, Niurka Linton, who mama get the chance to be catered pacing very well, with occupany to start booking early, pre-Christmas of sales, said that for their four 2 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 CONTRIBUTED The Royalton White Sands Resort in Montego Bay. PHOTOS BY DAVE RODNEY The new Moon Palace in Ocho Rios is sensational, colourful and exciting. resorts, including Sans Souci and cent,” said organisations group Swept Away, bookings look pretty manager, public relations, Sheryl good for Christmas, but all proper- McGaw-Douse. ties are showing some space until And it gets better at the Jewel December 28. and Hilton resorts, which are all “Our local business is mostly showing high occupancy for 10 per cent are locals, who are holiday and be catered to rather sold out for the Christmas holidays repeaters, so this is the norm for Christmas into the New Year, primarily booked over Christmas than to be in the kitchen or have since as early as October. this period,” she explained. according to Jewel and Hilton and Boxing Day for the family food prepared catered at home. “The only offerings we have Sandals Resorts is also Resorts director of marketing, resorts and a little less for the Many of the smaller hotels are available are day and evening experiencing and projecting very Charmaine Deane. adults-only,” said Deane. doing quite well as well, and this passes for persons wishing to spend high occupancies across all its “Over the years, we have seen an Being busy is normal for this time was evidenced by the response Christmas Day or have Christmas resorts, inline with traditional increasing number of Jamaicans for of year, she admitted, noting that from Sea Gardens Beach Resort’s dinner with us, and they are booking uptakes for the period. Christmas, especially the family- the number of local bookings has director of sales, Tricia-Ann limited,” added Bicarie. “Local to international bookings based ones, and this is no less. Of been growing steadily as it seems Bicarie, who told Hospitality are also in-line, with over 95 per our overall totals, between five and that persons prefer to enjoy the Jamaica that her hotel has been [email protected] HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 3 Hotel Teams Jamaican seafarers gearing up for are in the highest Chairman’s Trophy demand in the cruise business, says Bartlett OURISM MINISTER, maritime tourism – one to come to programme in cruise shipping and Edmund Bartlett says there Port Royal and the other one in the marine tourism. Tis currently a demand for Montego Bay area. One thing that The minister also took the 5,000 Jamaican seafarers in the Jamaica has not yet developed opportunity to encourage the cruise industry. properly is marinas for yachting and graduates to consider enrolling in Speaking last Tuesday (Novem- maritime tourism – this is a high- the Ministry of Tourism’s training ber 20) at the graduation ceremony income and special demographic arm, the Jamaica Centre for for the Blue Ocean Servidores pilot area of tourism. It is an area where programme, offered at the the rich and the famous particularly Tourism Innovation (JCTI) for Caribbean Maritime University, the control,” he stated. additional certification to attain minister said, Jamaica, he argued, has not been management roles in the industry. “I have been told by the cruise able to dominate, but was looking “The course that you have done lines that Jamaican seafarers are in forward to do just that. and the degree that you will get the highest demand in the cruise “We are also talking to our cruise after you have completed the four- business, but they have labour ship partners in a very strong way year period, is a start to qualify you market arrangements which need for you,” said Minister Bartlett. for higher levels of placement in tweaking,” Bartlett told the The aim of the Blue Ocean Servi- the tourism sector. The JCTI is a Runners enjoying the race course at Reggae Marathon. graduates. dores is to equip students with the “As we speak, there is a demand pathway institution to certify you skills and knowledge required for a for leadership,” said the minister. HOTELS IN the resort areas of the the promotion of the races locally for 5,000 seafarers. Therefore, gradu- smooth transition to the cruise ating from the Maritime University, He further emphasised that “once island are gearing up to compete and overseas. tourism sector as professionals. focusing on tourism is a very posi- you have been trained, certified and for the Chairman’s Trophy in this He said the prize purse remains Training took place with 10 tive area with immediate demand.” year’s Reggae Marathon, Half- at approximately J$1 million. In competent, then you are at the The minister also noted that students over an eight-week period, Marathon and 10K, set for Sunday, addition, there will be a special with classes on basic safety; ship vanguard of the prosperity agenda of there are plans in place to further Jamaica. I encourage you to December 2. prize purse, which was instituted in develop the marine tourism indus- security awareness; crowd and crisis understand that knowledge is to be The trophy was introduced last 2015 but has never been utilised, try so that more Jamaicans will management; protocol; business year in honour of Ewart Barclay, for Jamaicans who break any of the benefit from increased earnings etiquette; résumé writing; and used as a tool for engagement and the late chairman of the Reggae three race records. The from the sector. managing your IT footprint. All empowerment and to add value. If Marathon, Half-Marathon and Jamdammers Running Club will “We are just finishing discussions participants were students enrolled you are able to so use the knowledge, 10K. The inaugural trophy was double the prize of any Jamaican with two of the largest investors in in the bachelor of science degree then prosperity will be yours.” awarded to Negril’s Rock House breaking any of the established Hotel on the Negril’s West End, records held to date, as follows: which had the winning hotel team REGGAE MARATHON in the 10K. I “The trophy is again up for grabs Male record holder: Pamenos Ballentyne, St Vincent, 2001 – this year among Jamaican hotel 2:21:05 teams and word is that those from I Female record holder: Ramilia Negril, as well as Montego Bay and Burangulova, Russia, 2001 – other resort areas are training hard 2:42:25 to win it,” said Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, race director. REGGAE HALF-MARATHON In addition, Francis noted that I Male record holder: Moses the IAAF certification of the race Macharia, Kenya, 2001 – 1:08:32 course along the Negril main road I Female record holder – Jackline remains in effect for another three Toror, Kenya, 2001 – 1:16:12 years and can to be used by runners Reggae 10K wanting to qualify for the Olympics I Male record holder: Shawn Pit- and World Championships, or to ter, Jamaica, 2012 – 29:55 enter marathons such as the I Female record holder: Carrie prestigious annual Boston Marathon Tollefson, USA, 2011 – 36:17 or London Marathon events, which So far only one Jamaican, Shawn Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (5th right) and VP of university advancement and development require a qualifying time.