Weathering the 'Tivoli' storm

Published 9 June, 2010

Hospitality Jamaica

The effects of the gun battles that ensued in downtown Kingston last month are still ricocheting in the hospitality sector of the city as it picks up the pace and moves ahead to recover from the scars that the chain of events has left on the city. From drop-in arrivals to cancellation of room bookings, Kingston's hotels are feeling the heat.


But resilience and planning are the key to getting back on the track.

"The Kingston area hotels were affected negatively by the events in downtown Kingston and saw drop-off in arrivals as well as cancellations," confirmed Nicola Madden-Greig, chairman, Kingston chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and group director of marketing and sales, The Courtleigh Hotel and Suites.

"It is important to note, however, that all area hotels were at 100 per cent operational capacity throughout the events and was not affected in any way," she added." All hotels had guests arriving and departing during the initial day and still continue to welcome guests, albeit in reduced numbers."

The JHTA executive said that the hospitality sector in the capital city, promoted as 'The Heartbeat of Jamaica' is ready to pulsate next week as two major events are being hosted.

The Expo Jamaica 2010 (June 17-20) and Caribbean Fashionweek (June 15-20) are being seen as the comeback vehicles for Kingston; organised in conjunction with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the promoters of the events, the JHTA is using the opportunity to showcase the high points.

"We are utilising both traditional and social media to publicise the activities as we look towards welcoming numerous regional and international visitors," Madden-Greig told Hospitality Jamaica.

The JHTA is also keeping pace with its marketing initiatives; this was coupled by the visit of a United States-based journalist last weekend.

"He (the journalist) participated in the Appleton Jamaica Grill-Off, visited area hotels and attractions including Craighton Estate, where the famous Blue Mountain Coffee is made, as well as Saturday night he went club-hopping to some of Kingston's hottest night spots," Madden-Greig said.

The chapter plans to keep up the momentum and bring in other travel writers to experience Kingston first-hand over the next few weeks. According to Madden-Greig, the JHTA Kingston members will be participating as much as possible in the upcoming JTB sales blitzes to the United States, Canada and United Kingdom markets.

Corporate bodies have also been called upon to partner with the association in soliciting both regional and international conferences and meetings.

The diaspora is also being targeted, encouraging them to come and pump in the 'heartbeat' for the 'Emancipendence' period (August 1-7). "JHTA Kingston members will be participating in the Experience Jamaica Campaign with media launch scheduled for June 15," she said. "We are inviting our fellow Jamaicans to get to know their capital city and experience its rich culture and entertainment."

The message is clear, Kingston is gearing to ride the summer and beyond with its unique offerings as a business and cultural hub of Jamaica that the visitors can savour and relish.

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