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A year on after the incursion, Jamaica’s capital exudes vibrancy and resilience Amitabh Sharma Contributor On May 1, the streets were filled with a riot of colour, music on the crescendo and a sea of revellers dancing their blues away at the carnival parade that meandered through the streets of Kingston. This was a welcome and refreshing contrast to 12 months back, when the air in the city was filled with tension, apprehension and fear, as the security forces prepared for intervention in the west Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens. The incursion, which saw pitched gunfights between the security forces and the supporters of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, left Kingston scarred and bruised, and the city’s tourism and hospitality industry in uncertainty. “It (the impact) was quite significant, with hotels dropping to as low as 10-15 per cent occupancy [and] attractions, taxi operators, etc, seeing little to no business. It also set back the hard work and progress of the JHTA (J...

Cecil Cornwall selflessly continues to raise the bar of Jamaican tourism product Published, September 15, 2010 Hospitality Jamaica Cecil Cornwall’s life revolves around a passion, to get the youngsters who have been marginalised by society and make them well rounded professionals in Jamaica’s tourism industry. He has been living, breathing and exuding this passion for more that two decades now, when he started off Western School of Cake Decorating, Pastry Making (WSCDPM) and International & Creative Cooking (ICC) in September 1988.  Cornwall single handedly taught the foundation courses of cooking, baking and cake decorating, based on the skills he earned at STETHS and on the job.  “The idea came as result of relocating to Montego Bay where I found need for a institution, and in skills in the areas of cookings and cake decoration,” Cornwall said.  “It was an opportunity and indelible impact to community.” The institution, which started off in Montego Bay Hi...

- Kingston hotels seek to capitalize on city based events -   - Roll out aggressive marketing spree to match opportunities - Published, May 12, 2010 Hospitality Jamaica As the mercury is shooting, so are the efforts by Kingston based hotel and hospitality industry to make the best of the summer. To get the maximum mileage in the season, the Kingston chapter of Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has stepped up the marketing campaigns to target new markets. “While Kingston does not have the typical seasonality as the North Coast, we are looking towards decent travel from now until September,” said Nicola Madden Greig, chairman, Kingston chapter of the JHTA. This projection, she said, is bolstered by numerous special events as well as the Emancipation/Independence week; “this is when we see a lot of returning Jamaicans.” Charting the past trends, the increase in occupancy and visitor traffic to Kingston has been correlated to events that are held in the...

Everton Richard’s journey in the hospitality industry began as a pool attendant and waiter at Fern Hill Club, Portland. “I worked there for three years, my job was to clean the swimming pool and since I was living in the compound, I used to double up as a waiter.” Richards moved to Kingston and later joined Hilton Kingston, in 2001 as a security officer. His experience in Fern Hill came handy here, when a vacancy for Bellman arose in 2003; he applied for the position immediately. He likes his job and looks forward to meeting new guests every day. “As bellman my job entails assisting the guests with check in, taking them to their rooms and introducing them to the hotel,” Richards explained. A Seventh Day Adventist by faith, Richards was born and brought up at Ft. George, St. Mary near Annotto Bay. “I went to St. Mary Technical High School where I learnt the skill of Electrical Installation,” he tells Hospitality Jamaica. “It was a very nice, but a very small community, so I h...

Amitabh Sharma Hospitality Jamaica Senior Writer Published March 17, 2010 Hospitality Jamaica It was her curiosity for the establishment that brought Ruthlyn Henry to Jamaica Pegasus hotel. “I used to wonder how the building looked from inside,” she recalled. Henry, who was dress maker at a boutique, wanted a career change and made the move. “I was not getting what I wanted,” she said. “I sent in my application to the hotel for the post of room attendant and got selected.” That was fifteen years ago, and Henry learnt to be quick on her feet to make up for her lack of experience. “I did not have any experience in house keeping, but when I came to work the first day, I was greeted with warmth and friendliness,” Henry said. “I put myself in the job right away.” Henry, who is married has five children and three grandchildren, was born in St Mary and later moved to St Andrew. As housekeeping assistant at the hotel, she routinely inspects bedrooms and public areas to en...

Amitabh Sharma Hospitality Jamaica Senior Writer PUBLISHED: March 3, 2010 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA  Pauline Campbell never had formal training in hospitality, but it was her dream to work in the industry, and when the opportunity came, she took the challenge with grit and did her job to perfection. “I learnt everything here, it came easy to me as I always took my work as looking after my home,” Campbell said, who has worked at the Jamaica Pegasus for nine years, as a room attendant, with a coy smile. “Everyday when I go to work I just have that thought.” She puts all her efforts into ensuring that when her guests turn in for a night of rest, their room is immaculate and refreshing with all the comforts of home in place. Campbell had her share of hardships when she started out, her three daughters were attending school, “I gave them bus money and used to walk from home to work almost every day,” she recalls. It was her love for the job that made her tide over the adversities, “Y...

Amitabh Sharma Hospitality Jamaica Senior Writer PUBLISHED: March 3, 2010 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA  For Rosemarie Preddie- Brown work is nothing less than worship and she takes pride in the fact that she has never missed a day in the last 10 years serving the Jamaica Pegasus, Kingston. “I have never been absent from work,” she said, with a touch of humility. “I don’t watch the work,” the administrative assistant to director of Engineering, added, “I just work!” It had been her dream to work at the Pegasus, “I used to see the building from the bus and hoped that I would be working here one day." She joined the hotel as a housekeeping attendant in 2001; A year later she was promoted to the housekeeping department secretary, “I was called in by the head of the department and was informed that I would have to take charge as her secretary,” Preddie- Brown recalled. “I got one day training and was ready to go.” She hasn’t looked back since. By 2005, the acumen for streamlin...

Published February 17, 2010 Hospitality Jamaica  Amitabh Sharma Hospitality Jamaica Senior Writer Kevin Wynn is a team player and always seeks a way to find a solution to any problem, a trait that he learnt from playing football.  A former Seba United player, Kevin is Lead House Person at Rose Hall Resorts, incharge of major projects in the property. “I played forward, mid-field and defence,” Kevin recalled, “People still ask me why I am not playing football.”  Kevin started playing football in school; he was the captain of Glendevon football team. “Steve Bucknor asked me to join the Seba team, I played for one season, but found it difficult to commute so I had to give it up to be with my girlfriend.” Though his football was his first love, family responsibilities take precedence over everything. “For me my family comes first.” He started his career with Sandals Royale as a houseman, and was subsequently joined the then Wyndham Rosehall resort. He has take...

Amitabh Sharma Features Coordinator Published February 3, 2010 Hospitality Jamaica The aroma of fresh coffee and delectable fare emanates from Cafecino Café in the Lobby of Hilton Kingston and, topped with that, the cheerful Nicolette Quest, the jovial server, adds to the warm welcome. "I am a people person, I love to smile and joke," says Quest, who was born and raised in Tivoli Gardens and still resides there with her seven-year-old son, Brandon. Her pursuit of excellence did not stop there. In June 2005, she joined the Hilton family in the capacity of server in the Cafecino Café located in the Lobby. Nicky (as she is called) is jovial and friendly by nature. She always wears a ready smile. "I want to make the people feel at home and introduce them to Jamaica," she says. A proactive and creative person, she exhibited these skills last year on Heroes Day, when she provided tidbits on each table of the national heroes so that guests (especially the...

Amitabh Sharma Features Coordinator PUBLISHED, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 Hospitality Jamaica The first thing that strikes you about Maudrie Swaby-Rose is her smile, exuding warmth and welcome to guests checking into the Hilton Kingston hotel. As a room attendant, she is that critical element which makes the stay comfortable and memorable. "I love to take care of people and try to make them happy," says Swaby-Rose, who has been employed to the Hilton Kingston since 1998. She grew up in Salmon Town in the parish of South Manchester, was a middle-distance runner and wanted to make a career in athletics, but fate had something else in store for her. "When I went to school, the track-and-field scholarships were on hold, so it was all about academics," she recalls. Swaby-Rose is considered to be one of the drivers of the Housekeeping Department. She goes about her duties with energy and smile that melts everyone she comes into contact with. "I try to make th...