The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) presented three distinguished individuals in the tourist industry with awards for excellence in
their efforts to market Jamaica as the premier Caribbean destination. The presentation was made at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Allied Members Awards Luncheon on June 3, at The New York Hilton. The “Marcia Vickery”, “Marcella Martinez” and the “Jamaica Tourist Board’s 50th Anniversary” awards are significant achievements in association with JTB’s mandate of sharing the Jamaican experience
with the world.

Established in 2004, the Marcella Martinez Award was designed to be presented annually for unparalleled achievement in the design and implementation of successful programs to strengthen and support a Caribbean destination’s marketing efforts.

The Marcella Martinez Award is in memoriam of its namesake, whose extraordinary efforts as a public relations professional dedicated to promoting tourism to the Caribbean region are exemplary.

This year, the Hon. Aloun N’Dombet-Assamba, Minister of Industry and Tourism, presented the first-ever Marcella Martinez Award to The New York Carib News and its founders, Karl and Faye Rodney.

She noted that, “It is only fitting during the 50th Anniversary of the Jamaica Tourist Board, that the recipient of this award has an
established track record in the marketplace of supporting the Jamaican culture and has helped to create relationships with individuals and businesses in the public and private sectors. Karl and Faye Rodney have kept The New York Carib News on this path, complementing Jamaica’s marketing program for years, and providing a wealth of
reliable information to the Caribbean region and the Caribbean-American communities living abroad.”

The Marcia Vickery Award was established in 1987 as a tribute to Marcia Vickery-Wallace, former editor of Bride’s Magazine. Each year, the JTB, in conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, dedicates a tribute in her memory, to a journalist who has followed in her footsteps with the same dedication to promoting the Caribbean region.

This year, Director Paul Pennicook presented Mark Rogers, Caribbean Editor of Travel Agent Magazine with the Marcia Vickery Award
for the passion with which he has written about the charming culture of Jamaica over the past year.

Director Pennicook elaborated on why Mark Rogers was chosen. “In just this past year, Mark has exposed his readers to the intricacies of Jamaica and its culture, opening up the eyes of travellers to what is available on the island beyond the typical sun, sand and sea vacation,” Mr. Pennicook said.

The Jamaica Tourist Board 50th Anniversary Award In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, the JTB decided it was appropriate to create
an award. Deputy Director of Tourism for Marketing, David Shields says, “The 50th Anniversary Award has been created for an individual whose service to Jamaica’s tourism industry has spanned an entire career and who has taken the lead of development programs
essential to the creation of a better tourism product. Hugh Cresser is the embodiment of this concept and as such, will be the sole recipient of the JTB’s 50th Anniversary Award.”
——-