Page 10 Moore Town Granny Nanny Cultural Group reigniting the allure Page 13

16 Pages·2015·18.46 MB·English

The Gleaner
HospitalityJamaica
KEEPING YOU CONNECTED TO THE BUSINESS OF TOURISM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
The ‘Home of All right’ more
popular than ever!
Page 10
Moore Town Granny
Nanny Cultural Group
reigniting the allure
Page 13
2 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 ADVERTISEMENT
Jamaica Customs
Agency a pleasure
craft destination
The Tank-Weld team busy constructing the new jetty at Port Royal.
Janet Silvera crafts at Port Royal,” Reese told
Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator Hospitality Jamaica, excited about
the fact that his agency’s
CHANGING THEway it is
partnership with the Maritime
viewed as a ‘hard face’
Authority and the Ministry of
collector of revenue, the
Tourism and Entertainment is
Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), is
helping to transform the service
diversifying its offerings, securing
being offered in the hospitality
the country’s standing as a
sector.
pleasure-craft destination.
“How we interact with these
Yachts, cruisers, and powerboats
tourists on a daily basis will
will, as at the end of November,
definitely increase the number of
have access to a new $19.9 million
tourists entering our shores, and as
jetty currently under construction
such, foreign exchange will increase
by the JCA at the historic Port
thus seek to foster economic
Royal, one of Jamaica’s untapped
growth. It must be noted that
jewels.
expeditious processing of all vessels
The historic town, which was
will also seek to enhance the
made famous for trade, was
tourism industry when compared to
destroyed by an earthquake in
neighbouring competitors such as
1692. Among the fabric of that
Barbados, St Lucia, and Antigua
history is intertwined the customs
and Barbuda,” he also added.
office, which has been established
The jetty is the first of a two-
since the 1940s.
phased Port Royal renewal project
At 54 feet long and eight feet
customs has embarked on in the
wide, the structure, which projects
area. Phase two will see the
from the land into the water, will
construction of a sea and a
have the capacity to accommodate
boundary wall with the neigbouring
up to two 65-foot vessels at any
fishing village.
given time, said commissioner of
The small port, destroyed by
Major Richard Reese (left) head of customs, points out an area of an interest to Rainford Ward, customs, Major Richard Reese.
hurricane in the 1980s, also
“Between January and August,
technical support officer during a recent visit to see the progress of the new jetty being built by his
we have processed 47 pleasure
organisation in Port Royal. PLEASE SEE CRAFT, 4
HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 3
Perched on a
small fishing
boat, these birds
were a beauty to A custom boat being steered by coxswain Nicole Reid, one of
behold. 16 licensed coxswains in the country.
CRAFT international trade partners. customer-service point of view.
“We also aid in the fight against “We are able to provide better
the guns-for-drugs trade, food-for- service,” he pointed out,
CONTINUED FROM 3
guns trade, and by extension, the underscoring the fact that his agency
protection of the Jamaican borders.” had so many new areas implemented
time, said customs supervisor,
In addition, her unit performs including the recruitment of a
Dorothy Bailey Chambers, who has
functions on behalf of the Ministry hybrid officer, who will be capable of
been the biggest advocate of having
of Agriculture and Health, among doing the work of three persons.
this project become a reality.
others. “There is a thrust to improve the
“We are at a point at which we
Most important, when small service we now offer,” Reese said,
receive not only pleasure crafts, but vessels dock in Port Royal, the small revealing that locally based vessels From left: Wilberforce Johnson, Tank-Weld supervisor, Dorothy
commercial cargo ships that come
close-knit community benefits, said would also have access to docking at Bailey Chambers and Peter Lim-Tom.
here for repairs and inspection,” she
Reese. the new facilities.
said.
“They buy provision, they tour the Sixty-five foot vessels can dock at
The most important function of
historic town and dine at the famous the new facility, he said, announcing
the unit, Bailey Chambers said was
Gloria’s, while staying an average of plans to extend the length by
the constant monitoring of vessels
two weeks,” he said. another 20 feet in the next financial
that go into the port to load and
There are vessels that visit once year.
unload cargo and proceed to
per month, giving the town hope for “Then we will be able to
another destination.
As an exception, the custom this fledging market. accommodate even larger vessels,
supervisor said vessels report for “This is offering immense and at least two small ones at the
even bunkering and crew change. potential for Port Royal,” said Reese, same time,” he said.
“Bunkering is the process of admitting that although a jetty To complement its operation
providing fuel to ship for their own existed before, his team was forced islandwide, customs has also
use,” she explained, adding that the to board the craft at sea. acquired three 27ft Boston
unit fosters a good shipping With the new jetty, access will be Whalers (boats) from the Jamaica
relationship between Jamaica and its easier, he stated, particularly from a Constabulary Force.
The customs office, which adjoins the police in Port Royal.
The new jetty
being built by
the Jamaica
Customs
Department in
Port Royal.
Remnants of the old Jetty that was worn and out of use.
4 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
ADVERTISEMENT HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 5
THE BUSINESS OF TOURISM
Disruptive innovation’s
impact on tourism
David Jessop vehicles that may do away with pilots, drivers,
Contributor and traditional forms of energy for propulsion.
While some may think this unlikely, all of
IT ISfar from clear how much notice the
these developments, and more, are already
Caribbean tourism industry is taking of
being trialled and are likely to be rolled out in
the appearance in many developed and
the not-too-distant future.
some developing nations of
For the Caribbean, as the most
‘disruptive technology’ and
tourism-dependent region in the
‘disruptive innovation’.
world, each of these developments
By this, what is meant is new
poses challenges.
technology or innovation that helps
However, this is not just because
create a new market or value
taxi drivers have political clout
network by disrupting existing
and can find willing politicians
networks in ways that the market
prepared to defend the status quo,
may not expect. From left: Latoya Grant, acting customer service manager; Lesline Chisholm,
or hoteliers placing pressure on
Its normal effect is to increase
JESSOP Government to impose equivalent customer service director; Jennifer McDonald, CEO; and Stephanie Gordon,
competition, reduce prices, and
levels of taxation on those who customer service manager (recruitment).
restructure a market in ways that
rent out their properties.
often result in finding new consumers and
Instead, the challenge in the longer term PICA pulls off
changing the behaviour patterns of an
will be about the type of destination that each
existing market.
Caribbean nation and its industry wishes it to
Typical examples are electronic taxi-
be; and in the medium term, the extent to
hailing services of which Uber is the best
which it can meld the new technologies that
known; and Airbnb, which enables
more and more visitors come to expect in ways awards coup
individuals to rent out their usually privately
that provide local advantage. It will also be
owned properties to visitors.
about knowing when to respond when
Both are disruptive. In nations in which
disruptive technologies come to be the new
such services are available, they are causing
normal in the mind of consumer.
significant numbers of consumers to
Governments, too, will have to determine
abandon the often ultra-conservative vested Janet Silvera the island’s airports was the first of its kind in
how to compromise between local political
interests that operate near cartels on taxi Senior Gleaner Writer the world.
pressures, any erosion of their tax base, and
services or enable visitors to stay at locations changing trends in visitor demand. IN WHAThas been described as an She noted that the machines carried facial-
recognition features. “It also uses the
other than hotels in order to have a more These are interesting issues as it may also be unprecedented move, the Passport
advanced passenger information, which
authentic experience of being in a that in some smaller Caribbean destinations, Immigration and Citizenship Agency
allows us to pre-screen the passengers.”
destination. the industry, or governments, may themselves (PICA) pulled off an awards coup recently
PICA competed against shortlisted
wish to consider disruptive approaches. For when it copped four trophies at the
WELL-ESTABLISHED TECHNOLOGIES government agencies, namely the National
instance, as some hotels in Jamaica, Barbados, Government of Jamaica Customer Service
Some technologies of this kind are already Housing Trust, which copped the first place
and elsewhere have discovered, there are Awards Ceremony in Kingston.
well established. For instance, when it comes for ‘Best Customer Service Officer’ and
niche markets for those who want to avoid PICA was recognised for being ‘Most
to booking hotels, flights, and car hire, we now runner-up for the ‘Prime Minister’s Trophy’;
technology and want the peace and quiet of Creative and Innovative’, ‘Most Socially
take for granted the numerous sites offering the National Land Agency, National Health,
the natural. Aware’, ‘Best Modernised Entity,’ and runner-
such services discounting or selling-up which received the ‘Prime Minister’s Award
There are also other possibilities. For up of the ‘Most Improved’ at the event now
vacation add-ons. We are also all becoming for Multiple Locations’; the Firearm Licensing
example, the increased prevalence of some of in its seventh staging.
accustomed to the many new direct and Authority, which won the ‘Most Improved’
these technologies could enable a greater The event was held at the Terra Nova All
indirect marketing variations that have prize; and the Jamaica Cultural Development
actual and marketing emphasis on service, Suite Hotel.
Commission.
emerged as a result of social media. hospitality, cuisine, and other people-oriented Beaming with pride, PICA’s chief executive
Formed in 2007, PICA’s mandate is to
Other forms of disruptive innovation, skills. Others, however, in larger destinations officer, Jennifer McDonald, said, “We are
secure the country’s borders, safeguarding
however, are still emerging, in some cases, with where numbers matter, may see things always looking for better ways to serve our
Jamaica’s sovereignty.
an uncertain outcome. These include Bitcoin, differently. customers, and we seek partnerships with our
Last year, the organisation served five
which sees itself as a transmittable global To understand how challenging disruptive stakeholders in the tourism sector, such as the
million passengersat both airports, processed
digital currency beyond the control of innovation may be to tourism, one only has to Tourism Enhancement Fund and the
more than 200,000 applications for passports
individual states, but which has also been look at online comments in relation to the airlines.”
and 2,000 applications for citizenship.
associated with criminality; three-dimensional non-appearance so far of an Uber taxi service Late last year, through this partnership, the
“We are currently implementing facial
printing, which when scaled up, is capable of in Puerto Rico, or the decision by the city of agency introduced at both international
recognition in our passport-processing
constructing buildings, including hotel rooms, Paris to tax Airbnb rentals. They, and other airports – automated border control machines
system, which will identify incidents of
and producingin situ, for example, even examples in India, London, and elsewhere (kiosks), and by the end of the winter tourist
double identity and help to make the
battlefield weapons and body parts; and big demonstrate how vocal consumers can season, 18 per cent of the passengers at both
passport more secure for the holder,” said
data that in future will be brought together become when they are seeking to attract airports were processed by this method.
McDonald.
from multiple global sources to enable online audiences to place pressure on Some 80 per cent of passengers no longer
This new innovation is expected to be
marketing to the individual of almost anything destinations to change their approach. go through an immigration desk but are
completed before the end of 2016, she
on a personally tailored level. These are matters to be considered now, monitored electronically.
revealed.
There is also the real possibility of passenger- rather than to be left to the future and “That is truly innovation,” said McDonald,
carrying unmanned electric aircraft and chance. boasting of the fact that the type of kiosk in [email protected]
6 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
ADVERTISEMENT HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 7
The Jamaican winning team with their trophies at the World Travel Awards at the Sandals Emerald Bay in The Bahamas last Saturday night.
Sandals reigns supreme at
World Travel Awards Caribbean
SANDALS RESORTS Caribbean, and that success has
International has claimed the been recognised by our voters this
title of Caribbean’s Leading evening.
Hotel Brand for an unprecedented “My congratulations, too, to all
22 times at the World Travel our winners tonight, all of whom
Awards Caribbean & North are working tirelessly to drive up
America Gala Ceremony 2015, standards in the competitive
cementing more than two decades Caribbean and North American
at the top. hospitality markets.”
On a night of high drama at host Sandals copped all of 25 awards.
hotel Sandals Emerald Bay in The The event was hosted by stars
Bahamas, Delta Airlines took the Andrew Kennedy and Anastagia
titles of North America’s Leading Pierre, while guests were treated to
Airline and North America’s performances from The Royal
Leading Airline to the Caribbean, Bahamas Police Force Pop Band,
while Caribbean Airlines was Alia Cole, and Crusaders Junkanoo
Group.
recognised as the Caribbean’s
Also among those tasting success
Leading Airline.
on the night were the Jamaica
In a special presentation,
Tourist Board, recognised as the
Bahamas minister of tourism
Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board;
Obediah H. Wilchcombe was
Go Jamaica Travel, Caribbean’s
recognised as the Caribbean’s
Leading Tour Operator; Montego
Leading Travel Personality 2015.
Bay Convention Centre, the
World Travel Awards president
Caribbean’s Meetings and
Graham Cooke said: “What a night
Conference facility; Club MoBay,
for Sandals! Over the past two
Caribbean’s Leading Airport
decades, the brand has grown into From left: Spanish Court Hotel’s Andres Cope; Club MoBay’s Shelly-Ann Fung; Go Jamaica
Lounge; and Spanish Court Hotel,
an institution here in the Travel’s Dave Chin Tung; and Trafalgar Travel’s Steven Kerr.
8 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
The winning Sandals team (from left): Gary Williams, general
manager, Sandals Royal Bahamian; Jeremy Mutton, general
manager, Sandals Emerald Bay; Ramel Sobrino, general
manager, Sandals Ochi Beach Resort and David Latchimy,
general manager, Sandals Negril.
Jamaica’s Leading Business Hotel. Rentals took home the top rental-
It was definitely a night for car agency for the region.
Jamaica and its hospitality industry Trafalgar Travel was named the
players, and this was evident when Caribbean’s Leading Travel Nicola Madden-Greig (right) joins the winning team members from The Courtleigh Hotel &
the island was recognised as the Agency, while Jamaica Inn copped Suites, The Jamaica Pegasus, and The Knutsford Court Hotel, who participated in the annual
Caribbean’s Leading Cruise the ‘Jamaica’s Leading Hotel’ Taste of Jamaica culinary competition in Montego Bay recently.
Destination, while the Sangster award.
Taste of Jamaica 2015
International Airport was named Las Vegas also starred, taking the
the Caribbean’s Leading Airport. trophy for North America’s
New kids on the block Hyatt Leading Destination among a
Zilara Rose Hall, Montego Bay, clutch of awards, while the famous
THE HENDRICKSON the results of the winning Third place: Marlon Brown –
took the title of Caribbean’s Las Vegas Strip was recognised as
group topped the 2015 Hendrickson Group team. Secrets Resorts & Spa
Leading New Hotel, while the North America’s Leading Tourist
Taste of Jamaica
trophy for Caribbean’s Leading Destination. BEST DRESSED CHICKEN ELLE & VIRE CHEESECAKE
competition, outpacing all other
Hotel Suite went to Rock Star World Travel Awards Gala COMPETITION COMPETITION
competitors in trophies and
Suite at Hard Rock Hotel & Ceremonies are widely regarded as
medals. First place:Tameka Robinson – First place: Amelia Baker –
Casino Punta Cana. the best networking opportunities
The competitors, representing Jewel Paradise Cove Beach & Spa The Jamaica Pegasus
Oracabessa’s home of the rich in the travel industry, attended by
the Holiday Inn, The Jamaica Second place: Jamique Mair – Second place: Tavia Shepherd
and famous, Goldeneye, was government and industry leaders,
Pegasus, The Knutsford Court, Knutsford Court Hotel – Beaches Negril Resort & Spa
named the Caribbean’s Leading luminaries, and international print
Hotel and Courtleigh Hotel and Third place: Jermaine Aarons
Boutique Resort, while Island Car and broadcast media. WEDDING AND CELEBRATION
Suites, at the end of the two-day – Holiday Inn Resort
CAKES
event staged at the Montego Bay
CPJ BEEF COMPETITION First place: Sharyne Stultz –
Convention Centre were
The Jamaica Pegasus
victorious in the Best Dressed First place: Richard Pinnock –
Second place:Oshane
Chicken, CPJ Beef, Rainforest The Jamaica Pegasus
Robinson – Secrets Resorts & Spa
Seafood, and Copperwood Pork- Second place:Wellesley
Third place: André Campbell
sponsored competitions. Thomas – Holiday Inn Resort
– Secrets Resorts & Spa
According to the organisers of Third place:Dwayne Lamont –
the event, the Jamaica Culinary Knutsford Court Hotel TRADITIONAL PUNCH
Federation (JCF), this year saw
Fourth place:Michael Thomas COMPETITION
some upsets and surprises. There
– The Jamaica Pegasus First place:Jamique Mair –
were a number of new properties,
The Knutsford Court Hotel
schools, and individuals entering RAINFOREST SEAFOOD
Second place:Dwayne Lamont
the various competitions. COMPETITION
The Knutsford Court Hotel
“It is important to note that
First place: Derren Luke – Third place:Calmin Lawrence
competitors competed not against
Holiday Inn Resort – Goddard Catering Group
each other, but against a set
Second place:Richard Pinnock Fourth place:John Samuels –
standard, which means more than
– The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel Grand Palladium
one individual or team qualified
Third place:Damion Gordon –
for medals,” said the JCF. BARTENDING COMPETITION –
The Jamaica Pegasus
For the organising team, the NON-ALCOHOLIC
results this year are a testament to COPPERWOOD PORK First place: Adrian Johnson –
the teams and individuals who
COMPETITION Rockhouse Resort
have worked hard over the year,
First place: Dwayne Lamont – Second place:Roy Lawrence –
The Leading Caribbean Tour Operator, Go Jamaica Travel’s practising their entries and
The Knutsford Court Hotel Grand Palladium
managing director Dave Chin Tung shares lens time with the delivering their best at the
Second place:Shanika Clarke Third place: Gossett Brown –
Caribbean’s Leading Convention and Meeting facility, general appointed time. – The Jamaica Pegasus Rockhouse Resort
manager of the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Dittie Guise. Hospitality Jamaicabrings you
HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 9
Jason Hall, the Jamaica Tourist
Board’s (JTB) deputy director of
tourism, pays keen attention to Carol
Jones, executive assistant in the Policy
and Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of
Tourism and Entertainment, as she
explains the work of the participants
during the recently concluded
Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’
Dialogue. The JTB hosted a farewell
party for the group of Caribbean and
Canadian nationals who were on the
island to participate in a two-week
intensive programme.
Below: Jason Hall (left) welcomes
Bruce Bowen, Scotiabank’s senior
vice-president, Caribbean International
Banking, to the Caribbean-Canada
Emerging Leaders’Dialogue (CCELD)
farewell party. The event, hosted by the
JTB at Devon House, gave the CCELD
participants a touch of the Jamaican
experience through food and music
with the ambience and warmth of the
historic location. The CCELD gives
participants the opportunity to develop
critical leadership competences.
The ‘Home of All Right’ more popular than ever!
Jamaica’s year-on-year tourist
numbers up more than 16%
ACCORDING TOfigures also planned: The Marriott
from the Jamaica Tourist Courtyard in Kingston; the Meliá
Board, the number of Braco Resort; Sunscape Cove and
United Kingdom (UK) tourists Splash Resorts; Zoetry Resort, and
visiting the island in the period the reconstruction of the Royalton
TOURIST BOARD
January-August 2014, compared to Grand Lido in Negril, formerly
January-August 2015, increased by Grand Bahia Principe Runaway known as the Grand Lido Negril,
16.6 per cent. Jamaica is hosting Bay and the Sensatori, are adding which is due for completion in the
more tourists than ever before and rooms to increase capacity. middle of 2016.
is set to become the number-one Other factors, like the “The UK’s love affair with
Caribbean destination among UK continued strength of the pound Jamaica is going from strength to
holidaymakers this year, against the dollar, a reduction in
strength,” said Paul Pennicook,
overtaking current leader, fuel surcharges, the UK’s growing
Jamaica’s director of tourism. “We
Barbados. economy, cruise liners continuing
are working hard to promote the
There are a number of reasons to home port in Montego Bay, and
island and make it the Caribbean
the ‘Home of All Right’ continues the popularity of eco-tourism and
destination of choice for
to be such a hit with British sustainability, both of which are
holidaymakers. We are targeting
holidaymakers: the people, the thriving on the island, are also
all sectors of the UK market, with
natural beauty, the cuisine, the helping to make Jamaica the ‘must
a particular focus on driving
culture, the music, the sport, the go’ destination for Brits in the
demand in the north of the UK,
sense of adventure and romance, Caribbean and the growth is set to
and in building and strengthening
and, of course, the beaches. continue in 2016.
our relationships with agents and
Likewise, the opening of a raft The total number of airline seats
partners, and it’s paying off.”
of new resorts means there are will increase by more than 11,000
Across Europe, too, more and
more places than ever for in the 2015-2016 winter season,
holidaymakers to rest, relax, and compared to the previous year. more holidaymakers are choosing
recharge. Hyatt, Royalton, The number of airline seats in the to feel the Jamaican vibe. Overall
Sensatori, and Moon Palace have 2016 summer season will also numbers are up 8.1 per cent, with
all recently opened stunning new increase from the previous year. Denmark, Finland, and Ireland
resorts. Others, including the A programme of new openings is showing the strongest growth.
10 HOSPITALITY JAMAICA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015