More reasons for Wealth Auto Show's MoBay move

Ahead of its second staging in Montego Bay, after starting out in Kingston, additional reasons for moving the Wealth Auto Show to the St James capital were given at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on Waterloo Road in St Andrew last Wednesday.

Leighton Davis of Wealth Magazine and Creative Media and Events, organisers of the show slated for July 2 and 3 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, said: "We believe that western Jamaica needed a show of this calibre."

This was in a situation where "Kingston had its own show" - that being the Automobile Dealers Association (ADA) biennial event.

However, scheduling and aesthetics apart, general manager of Jamaica National General Insurance (JNGI), Chris Hind, gave a dollars-and-cents justification for locating the Wealth Auto Show in Montego Bay. For while economic growth across the island is sluggish, Hind said, "On the north coast, and around Montego Bay, in particular, things are moving at a considerably faster clip."

It is this potential revenue that the JN Auto Loan, official partner for the 2016 Wealth Auto Show, intends to benefit from, with a special introductory rate of five per cent on the reducing balance for the two-day automobile exhibition and marketplace. JNGI also has lowered insurance rates.

QUALITY PRODUCTS

Another partner in the show, Sol Petroleum, made a connection between the quality of their products and the auto show's expected standard. Karoline Smith, marketing implementer for Sol Western Caribbean, said, "We look forward to doing our part in making this the best event."

Paul Allen, assistant manager, marketing and communication at The Jamaica Observer, noted the increased accessibility across the island with the new highway. He hopes this will result in some support from Kingston for the show.

There were challenges when the Wealth Auto Show began, Davis conceded as "when you are doing something new and going against the grain, it will be a bit of a challenge".

Now, Davis said, the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make it a world-class event. He described next month's show as a "one-stop shop - everything under one roof".

A comprehensive marketing campaign, with on-the-ground and social-media elements, will be implemented.

"We hope for an excellent show. We hope this show will be the best of its kind in Jamaica," Davis said.

Tresha-Gay Miller of Business Access TV gave the Creative Media and Events entity's endorsement of the 2016 Wealth Auto Show at the launch, which was hosted by Kerie-Ann 'Kiki' Lewis.