Jamaica makes it a night to remember

Telling his audience that “I have the greatest job in the world. I represent Jamaica,” Philip Rose, regional manager Canada for the Jamaica Tourist Board, welcomed a group of travel industry VIPs to a special evening to celebrate all things Jamaican. Originally, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, the most honourable Portia Simpson Miller was to have presided over the event, however, Hurricane Sandy made it imperative that the island’s head of government return home. However, Jamaica’s minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade and senator, the honourable Arnold Nicholson stepped in to offer greetings from the prime minister and a message that emphasized the strong bonds that exist between Canada and Jamaica along with the importance of the critical partnership between Canada’s travel trade and the island’s tourism industry. That partnership with the trade, senator Nicholson told his audience has has seen Jamaica grow its business from Canada to over 308,000 visitors since 2008 and further increases are being realized in 2012. During the evening, Baxter Travel Media (BTM) had the opportunity to present Jamaica with two awards it had earned in the 2012 Agents’ Choice Awards poll. In 2012, Canadian travel agents picked the JTB as its favourite tourist board in Canada and also named Jamaica as their favourite honeymoon destination. It’s the sixth year in a row that the JTB has earned top tourist board honours, while Jamaica has been the favourite honeymoon destination for four years in a row. Seen here, from l to r, are Jamaica’s minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, senator, the honourable Arnold Nicholson; BTM’s executive editor, Bob Mowat; and the JTB’s regional manager Canada, Philip Rose.