Q. This is a huge calendar year for Jamaica, as it celebrates 60 decades of independence. The JTB is marking the situation with a reserving incentive for its Canadian travel advisor companions. Why was it critical for the JTB to reward its journey agent associates as component of the 60th diamond jubilee celebrations?
Bennett: “Canadian journey advisors have constantly been a big portion of Jamaica’s success and have earned to be identified for their tough do the job and devotion. We specifically respect our agent companions for their loyalty during the pandemic and in this ongoing recovery period, so wanted to existing this specific Diamond Jubilee scheduling incentive as a way of expressing thank you in the course of this celebratory year.”
Q. It is so good that vacation has reopened from Canada, so travellers can last but not least holiday vacation in a great deal-cherished locations like Jamaica. What beneficial stats can you share about bookings and travel from Canada to Jamaica as vacation carries on to recuperate?
Bennett: “Jamaica is recovering very well with the US current market coming in strongest followed by Canada. From January to June of this calendar year we have viewed 1.3 million arrivals to Jamaica as opposed to 2019 at 1.6 percent – so we are just 13 per cent shy of 2019 numbers. For the 2022 summertime period of time, which operates from late June to the stop of August, the JTB is projecting that the island will welcome somewhere around 800,000 people with vacation spot earnings exceeding US $1.1 billion.
“Right now the journey sector is upbeat and momentum is great with sturdy revenue in the Caribbean. We’re also observing an upswing in our much more high-class offerings and increased finish classes. There’s unquestionably a surge in vacation, the market is resilient and recovering particularly very well.”
Q. Any rapid resort news that agents must know about?
Bennett: “Currently about 8,000 new lodge rooms are both in development or should really start building inside of months. A couple of of these projects include things like the 2,000 place Princess Vacation resort in Hanover, on the western conclusion of the island involving Negril and Montego Bay, which is presently in building and will come to be Jamaica’s largest vacation resort. We’re also finishing just underneath 1,000 rooms by Sandals and Beach locations in St. Ann near Ocho Rios, and the new RIU Aquarelle in Trelawny has broken ground and will boast 700 rooms. There will also be a enormous expansion of Bahia Principe by Grupo Pinero out of Spain, and we should really have a lot more aspects on their designs shortly.”
Q. The JTB was front and centre through the pandemic, with webinars and much more to retain agents engaged and in the loop with marketing Jamaica. Are you viewing that pay off now with an even deeper connection between the JTB and its agent companions, and are there any trade initiatives that the JTB began throughout the pandemic that it will continue to keep?
Bennett: “We are quite very pleased of our prosperous, on the internet Irie hour, which commenced through the onset of the pandemic and is nonetheless ongoing 2 times monthly. Via our Irie Hour we have grown a dedicated community of vacation agents that are remarkably educated and encouraged in all factors Jamaica, including promotions, new or switching protocols, flights and new developments. Our vacation advisor Facebook neighborhood has grown to in excess of 3,000 active agent users and we continue on to develop new content material, incentives (like our current 60 Times and 60 Nights marketing) to preserve issues clean.”