From South Florida Caribbean News

LONDON, UK – The second day at World Travel Market in London has proved momentous for Jamaica, starting with well-received presentations on Jamaica events and the islands newest properties from Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Director of Tourism, Mr Paul Pennicook, before concluding with five coveted awards for the UK’s favourite Caribbean destination.

Director of Tourism was honorary guest speaker at Playa Resort’s media launch for its two first Jamaica properties, the Hyatt Zilara & Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, set to open on November 23, 2014. The room full of UK media and travel trade representatives were bowled over by the credentials of Jamaica’s newest luxury all-inclusive properties, aiming to be the Caribbean’s only six-star all-inclusive resorts.

Kevin Froemming, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Playa Resorts, added to the ‘feel-good’ factor by thanking Jamaica Tourist Board for its continued support in promoting the properties, and for offering all guests staying at Hyatt Ziva & Zilara a free round of golf in 2015.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, engaged in Ministerial duties at the world’s leading trade expedition, holding a meeting with fellow attendee UNWTO ministers for Minister McNeill’s first month as Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council.

On Tuesday morning, Minister presented at the UNWTO and WTM Minister’s Summit 2014, the theme of which was mega events and building a lasting legacy from such tourism opportunities. Minister stated to the audience of travel leaders Jamaica’s own positive economic benefits gleaned from Jamaica House 2012, 2013 and 2014, and underlined the benefits of mega events in and outside the home destination. Minister gave the example that the JTB’s promotional activity at the 2012 Olympic Games was successful given that in 2013 UK visitor arrivals increased to Jamaica to 4.7%, and in 2014 achieved an historic growth rate of 13%.

Day two concluded on a high, with Minister McNeill and Director of Tourism receiving an unprecedented five awards for Jamaica, courtesy of the World Travel Awards. Jamaica won the Caribbean’s Leading Destination 2014 and Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2014 and on the cruise front, Jamaica scooped three more awards. These were for Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2014, Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port 2014 for Ocho Rios, and Caribbean’s Leading Heritage Attraction 2014 for Falmouth.

Jamaica copped an unprecedented five awards, courtesy of the prestigious World Travel Awards, including the Caribbean’s Leading Destination 2014 and Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2014 while on the cruise front, Jamaica scooped three more awards. These were for Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2014, Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port 2014 for Ocho Rios, and Caribbean’s Leading Heritage Attraction 2014 for Falmouth. Proudly displaying the clutch of awards are ( left to right) Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook; Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr.Wykeham McNeill; World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke; and William Tatham, Vice President Cruise Shipping & Marina Operations, Port Authority of Jamaica.

IMAGE: Jamaica copped an unprecedented five awards, courtesy of the prestigious World Travel Awards, including the Caribbean’s Leading Destination 2014 and Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2014 while on the cruise front, Jamaica scooped three more awards. These were for Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2014, Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port 2014 for Ocho Rios, and Caribbean’s Leading Heritage Attraction 2014 for Falmouth. Proudly displaying the clutch of awards are ( left to right) Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook; Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr.Wykeham McNeill; World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke; and William Tatham, Vice President Cruise Shipping & Marina Operations, Port Authority of Jamaica.

For more on this story go to: http://sflcn.com/jamaica-cops-five-2014-world-travel-awards/

Related story:

WTM: World Travel Leaders Awards announced

From TTG Digital

The 35th anniversary celebrations of WTM continued on Wednesday, with the announcement of the first World Travel Leaders Awards.

The awards – formerly the WTM Global Awards – were set up to recognise those individuals and organisations that have contributed the most to the global travel and tourism industry over the 35-year history of WTM.

The 12 awards were shortlisted by WTM’s leading media partners, including TTG Media, publisher of the Official Event Daily Magazines at WTM. The winners were then chosen by an elite judging panel comprised of senior industry leaders.

Simon Press, senior exhibition director WTM, said: “The World Travel Leaders Awards (formerly the WTM Global Awards) celebrate the industry’s successful individuals and organisations since 1980, when WTM launched.

“The quality of all the winners demonstrates how much the industry has grown, evolved, changed and succeeded over the past three and a half decades.”

In the UK the prize was awarded to easyJet, in recognition of the way in which it broke the mould in the 1990s.

Daniel Pearce, managing director of TTG Media, who presented the award to Sophie Dekkers, director – UK market for easyJet, said the judges had chosen easyJet because of the impact the airline had had on so many other travel businesses in the UK and beyond.

The presentation of the awards followed World Travel Leaders Speak – a panel debate on the future of travel led by BBC HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur and featuring Geraldine Valenti, senior director, Solutions Group, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Carlson Wagonlit Travel; Geraldine Calpin, senior vice-president and global head of digital, Hilton Worldwide; Drew Crawley, chief commercial officer, British Airways; and Johan Lundgren, deputy chief executive, Tui Travel.

Brazil

Presented by Mercado & Eventos

Winner: Eduardo Nascimento, President of Nascimento Turismo Operadora

Canada

Presented by Canadian Travel Press

Winner: Air Canada

China

Presented by China Business Network

Winner: James Liang, chairman and chief executive of Ctrip.com

India

Presented by Trav Talk

Winner: Jehangir Katgara, chairman and managing director of TBI Trail Blazer Tours India Private Limited

Italy

Presented by L’Agenzia di Viaggi

Winner: Venetian Villas

Middle East

Presented by TTN

Winner: The Gulf Hotel Bahrain

Portugal

Presented by Publituris

Winner: Andre Jordan, founder of the Andre Jordan Group

Russia

Presented by Tourbusiness

Winner: Association of Tour Operators

Spain

Presented by Hosteltur

Winner: Turespana

Technology

Presented by Travolution

Winner: David Speakman, chairman, Travel Counsellors

UK

Presented by TTG Media

Winner: easyJet

USA

Presented by Travel Weekly USA

Winner: Roger Dow, US Travel

IMAGE: Kate MacBeth, head of marketing and communications for WTM Portfolio, speaks at the World Travel Leaders presentation

For more on this story go to: http://www.ttgdigital.com/news/wtm-world-travel-leaders-awards-announced/4693284.article