Jamaica to Present First Tourism “Oscars”

Jamaica’s first Tourism “Oscars,” the Tourism Service Excellence Awards, created to honor the “best of the best” in hospitality, will take place on Friday, April 24 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort in Montego Bay.

A host of prizes will be up for grabs during the event which will see 13 individuals and nine organizations, representing the island’s resort areas of Kingston, Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril and the South Coast, vying for the top service award for each region.

Each resort winner will be presented with the Resort Area Champion Trophy plus J$50,000. In addition, Resort Area Champions will participate in a four-day group trip to Nassau Bahamas. Accommodations will be provided through the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism at the Atlantic Resort and flights will be provided by Air Jamaica.

The National Champion will walk away with an additional cash prize of J$100,000 and an all expenses paid week-long trip for two to the islands of St. Maarten, Antigua, and Barbados, staying at top resorts in the islands, courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism in each island. The winner will fly first class, courtesy of Caribbean Airlines.

Launched in July 2008, the Tourism Service Excellence Program seeks to recognize outstanding service delivery in the hospitality sector by both individuals and organizations.

Its aim is to reward the best in service and to motivate those individuals and organizations who consistently surpass standards and guest expectations. The awards recognize those organizations and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service during 2008.

Dubbed the “Oscar of Tourism,” the event will feature the “best of the best” from across the island, in the hospitality sector. The award distinguishes between individuals and organizations; as such, each has its own award. A total of 116 nominees were reviewed.

Source: CaribbeanNewsDigital