Q. This is a large calendar year for Jamaica, as it celebrates 60 decades of independence. The JTB is marking the celebration with a reserving incentive for its Canadian travel advisor associates. Why was it critical for the JTB to reward its journey agent partners as portion of the 60th diamond jubilee celebrations?
Bennett: “Canadian vacation advisors have often been a big element of Jamaica’s achievement and have earned to be regarded for their challenging get the job done and devotion. We specially appreciate our agent companions for their loyalty all through the pandemic and in this ongoing restoration interval, so preferred to present this exclusive Diamond Jubilee reserving incentive as a way of indicating thank you for the duration of this celebratory calendar year.”
Q. It is so fantastic that travel has reopened from Canada, so travellers can finally vacation in substantially-cherished locations like Jamaica. What constructive stats can you share about bookings and vacation from Canada to Jamaica as journey carries on to get well?
Bennett: “Jamaica is recovering perfectly with the US industry coming in strongest followed by Canada. From January to June of this yr we have found 1.3 million arrivals to Jamaica in comparison to 2019 at 1.6 per cent – so we are just 13 per cent shy of 2019 figures. For the 2022 summer time time period, which operates from late June to the end of August, the JTB is projecting that the island will welcome roughly 800,000 visitors with place earnings exceeding US $1.1 billion.
“Right now the travel sector is upbeat and momentum is fantastic with strong revenue in the Caribbean. We’re also looking at an upswing in our far more lavish offerings and larger finish types. There’s surely a surge in travel, the sector is resilient and recovering extremely properly.”
Q. Any swift vacation resort information that brokers need to know about?
Bennett: “Currently about 8,000 new lodge rooms are possibly in growth or should begin construction in just months. A handful of of these tasks incorporate the 2,000 room Princess Resort in Hanover, on the western close of the island among Negril and Montego Bay, which is presently in construction and will grow to be Jamaica’s premier resort. We’re also finishing just beneath 1,000 rooms by Sandals and Shorelines in St. Ann around Ocho Rios, and the new RIU Aquarelle in Trelawny has damaged floor and will boast 700 rooms. There will also be a enormous growth of Bahia Principe by Grupo Pinero out of Spain, and we should have extra aspects on their ideas quickly.”
Q. The JTB was entrance and centre throughout the pandemic, with webinars and far more to continue to keep agents engaged and in the loop with marketing Jamaica. Are you observing that pay off now with an even further link between the JTB and its agent companions, and are there any trade initiatives that the JTB begun in the course of the pandemic that it will hold?
Bennett: “We are very very pleased of our successful, on the web Irie hour, which began all through the onset of the pandemic and is nevertheless ongoing twice monthly. By way of our Irie Hour we have developed a dedicated group of vacation brokers that are highly educated and impressed in all things Jamaica, like promotions, new or modifying protocols, flights and new developments. Our vacation advisor Facebook neighborhood has developed to over 3,000 active agent associates and we keep on to develop new content, incentives (like our existing 60 Times and 60 Evenings marketing) to continue to keep things new.”