Black Meetings & Tourism - Jamaica's Montego Bay Convention Centre On Track For January 2011 Openings

Facilities Update
Jamaica's Montego Bay Convention Centre On Track For January 2011 Openings
Jamaica’s Montego Bay Convention Centre is on schedule for its highly-anticipated debut in January 2011. The Convention Centre, which is located in close proximity to major hotels, attractions and the Sangster International Airport, will not only enhance the destination’s tourism infrastructure but fortify Jamaica’s position in the thriving meetings and conventions market. “We’re excited for the long-awaited completion of the Montego Bay Convention Centre and even more thrilled with the impact this product will have on the destination’s appeal to meeting planners,” said John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “The Convention Centre will expand Jamaica’s capacity to accommodate groups of all sizes and ultimately boost our standing as a meetings mecca for convention groups.” The Convention Centre will provide in excess of 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, over 20,000 sq. ft. of banquet facility and more than 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. With the addition of 700 rooms in Montego Bay this year alone, the room stock in the Negril to Ocho Rios corridor has surpassed the 20,000 mark, providing the infrastructure necessary to host large-scale events. Jamaica is now poised to claim a piece of the estimated US$280 billion worldwide conventions and exhibitions market. Attendees at the Caribbean Marketplace 2011, taking place January 16-18, will be among the first to experience the Centre – the largest convention center of the English speaking Caribbean region – as it is set to host the premier tourism marketing event of the Caribbean region, showcasing the best of the Caribbean. About the Jamaica Tourist Board The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) from 2006 to 2010. Also in 2010, Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote for the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, Montego Bay was named the World’s Leading Beach Destination, Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port and Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Airport. JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo. For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com, or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at (8000 JAMAICA (800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitjamaica, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/visitjamaicanow or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/aboutjamaicajtb.

Facilities Update

Jamaica's Montego Bay Convention Centre On Track For January 2011 Openings

Jamaica’s Montego Bay Convention Centre is on schedule for its highly-anticipated debut in January 2011. The Convention Centre, which is located in close proximity to major hotels, attractions and the Sangster International Airport, will not only enhance the destination’s tourism infrastructure but fortify Jamaica’s position in the thriving meetings and conventions market. “We’re excited for the long-awaited completion of the Montego Bay Convention Centre and even more thrilled with the impact this product will have on the destination’s appeal to meeting planners,” said John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “The Convention Centre will expand Jamaica’s capacity to accommodate groups of all sizes and ultimately boost our standing as a meetings mecca for convention groups.”

The Convention Centre will provide in excess of 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, over 20,000 sq. ft. of banquet facility and more than 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. With the addition of 700 rooms in Montego Bay this year alone, the room stock in the Negril to Ocho Rios corridor has surpassed the 20,000 mark, providing the infrastructure necessary to host large-scale events. Jamaica is now poised to claim a piece of the estimated US$280 billion worldwide conventions and exhibitions market. Attendees at the Caribbean Marketplace 2011, taking place January 16-18, will be among the first to experience the Centre – the largest convention center of the English speaking Caribbean region – as it is set to host the premier tourism marketing event of the Caribbean region, showcasing the best of the Caribbean.

About the Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) from 2006 to 2010. Also in 2010, Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote for the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, Montego Bay was named the World’s Leading Beach Destination, Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port and Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Airport.

JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo.

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com, or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at (8000 JAMAICA (800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitjamaica, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/visitjamaicanow or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/aboutjamaicajtb.