Focus Page 291

Jamaica looks to new horizons
Jamaica is targetting untapped source markets such as Russia and Brazil in order to reach its goal of attracting two million stopover visitors to the island this year. As Caribbean Marketplace 2011 drew to a successful close, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett highlighted the need to build non-traditional markets in order to take his island’s travel and tourism economy to the next level.

Palmyra sets new style precedent in Jamaica
Whilst the brand new Montego Bay Convention Centre has been the talk of Caribbean Marketplace 2011, Jamaica’s most famous tourist area has also recently become home to another iconic development. Opened during last summer, the towering Palmyra Resort & Spa is the vision of real estate mogul Bob Trotta, and has set a new style precedent on the island.
Virgin Holidays to build Branson training centre for Caribbean entrepreneurs
Virgin Holidays has unveiled plans to invest £2 million to build a Richard Branson training centre for Caribbean entrepreneurs as part of the company’s drive to strengthen the region’s travel and tourism economy. The moves come at a promsing time for the brand, which last year recorded recorded record operational profits.

WSDE Sport Tourism Expo and iSC announce Social Media Partnership
Sports business portal iSportconnect.com has agreed a social media partnership with WSDE Sport Tourism Expo which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand - Asia’s Sport Tourism Gateway - from 27-29 September 2011.
Caribbean Marketplace 2011 spotlight: Half Moon
Jamaica’s Half Moon epitomizes the Caribbean travel experience. Timeless elegance blends seamlessly with the wonders of mother nature to create an experience that takes guests straight to the soul of the island. As Montego Bay plays host to Caribbean Marketplace 2011, BTN spoke to Half Moon General Manager, Aram Zerunian.

Caribbean Marketplace 2011 destination guide: Jamaica
As Jamaica plays host to Caribbean Marketplace 2011, the first time it has held the region’s premier travel trade event since 2005, BTN takes a look at the tourism credentials of an island blessed with natural beauty and some of the world’s most exquisite hotels.

Caribbean Marketplace 2011: Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism
Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, is the industry’s man of the moment. Having successfully navigated his nation’s travel and tourism economy through the global financial crisis, he is now playing a pivotal role in establishing Jamaica as a leading MICE destination. BTN catches up with him at Caribbean Marketplace, which is being held at the brand new Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Kayak launches new app
The convergence of social media and mobile applications will have a profound impact on corporate meetings and events, but not in the way one might expect. In a new report and upcoming Online Event,

The Next Wave of European Online Travel Growth
The European online travel market is expected to grow 10% in 2011, led by solid double-digit gains in countries that have been slower to adopt online booking channels in the past, according to PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview Sixth Edition.

Top entertainment lined up for Caribbean Marketplace
Jamaica will be showing off its rich musical heritage at the forthcoming Caribbean Marketplace 2011 by assembling a top-draw entertainment line-up for the opening and closing nights of the region’s most important travel trade event.
First Class Trap: The perils of luxury travel
While rare, random acts of violence are not wholly unexpected among British travellers while abroad, with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office continually warning holidaymakers to be on their guard wherever they are. Here Breaking Travel News looks at the dangers.

Montego Bay hotels fully booked ahead of CHTA Marketplace
Excitement is building ahead of Caribbean Marketplace 2011 with the JHTA reporting that hotel rooms in Montego Bay have sold out ahead of this weekend’s event. It will also be the first event to be held at the brand new Montego Bay Convention Centre, a $45 million, state-of-the-art facility that aims to establish Jamaica as a world-class MICE destination.