Port Authority pushes civic pride with award
Published:Sunday | September 24, 2017 | 12:00 AMJanet Silvera
WESTERN BUREAU:
More attractive and welcoming resort areas for locals and visitors alike is the objective behind the creation of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ)-sponsored 'Best Resort Town Experience' award, which will be presented at the 2017 RJRGleaner Hospitality Jamaica Awards.
"It is important for each of our resort towns to differentiate themselves so that our visitors can know what each has to offer over another and therefore are able to better elect where they stay, whether they come by ship or by air," said vice-president of cruise shipping and marine operations at the PAJ, William Tatham.
According to Tatham, Jamaicans are competitive by nature, so he feels such an award may help spur on civic pride for residents within their own resort areas.
"We feel they collectively want to take actions to better showcase their own areas," he added.
The Best Resort Town Experience is the latest in 15 categories of awards to be presented at the November 11 event at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, and the PAJ is one of a number of bodies, including the Jamaica Tourist Board, Rainforest Seafoods, Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited and GraceKennedy lending support.
Other companies that have come on board this year are Margaritaville Caribbean and the Jamaica Public Service.
CATEGORIES
Some of the other categories being awarded at this year's awards include:
- Best Family Resort
- Best in Transportation
- Best European Plan (EP) Resort
- Best Boutique Hotel
- Best All-Inclusive Hotel Under 300 Rooms and Over 300 Rooms.
CRITERIA TO ENTER
- Entities nominated for each category - with the exception of Best Resort Town Experience - must be registered or licensed companies with the Jamaica Tourist Board or the Tourism Product Development Company.
- In addition, to qualify for nomination, all entities must be compliant with all applicable standards within the tourism industry and otherwise. The entities must be exceptional providers of customer service, so much so that it enhances the visitor experience.
- Entities nominated are also expected to have engaged in continuous upgrading and training of their staff. Additionally, they must have contributed significantly to the improvement in the quality of Jamaica's tourism industry. All nominated entities must have been in operation for a minimum of one year to qualify.
Nominations have been extended until today, Monday, September 25. Any member of the public may nominate a qualified tourism organisation or entity. Nomination forms can be obtained by emailing hospitalityjamaica@gleanerjm.com or through The Gleaner's Facebook page.