Peterkin
Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE JAMAICA Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), will be auctioning 250 vacations valued at US$500,000 (J$30 million) on the Internet through eBay to aid Hurricane Katrina victims in the United States.
President of the JHTA, Horace Peterkin, confirmed the relief effort to The Sunday Gleaner, yesterday afternoon.
He said that in less than two days, JHTA members have contributed nearly 200 vacations of three, four and seven nights, a total of 8,688 room nights, that will be sold on the popular website.
The hotels involved include SuperClubs, Sandals Resorts International, Sunset Beach Resort and Spa, Jake's Treasure Beach, Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Half Moon Montego Bay, Rose Hall Beach Country Club (formerly Wyndham Rose Hall), Ritz Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Couples Resorts, Franklyn D Resort and Round Hill.
Proceeds from the auction will be handed over to the Red Cross to be used in assisting persons in the hardest hit areas in New Orleans and other Golf States.
"Americans have been foremost among our tourism visitors for more than a century," said the JHTA head.
In fact, Jamaica gets 70 per cent of its visitors from the United States, and a fair number of these guests come from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, the areas affected by the killer storm.
Air Jamaica Vacations (AJV) has offered to be the affiliate partner with eBay in ensuring the transactions are executed efficiently, JTB Deputy Director of Tourism, David Shields, told The Sunday Gleaner. He said, before the country can go "live" with its offers, AJV will have to complete some verification procedures with eBay.
He said that Air Jamaica had also been approached and they too had indicated their commitment to supporting the effort. "Air Jamaica will make available airline seats from designated Air Jamaica gateways."
"Tourism is our most important industry and for the people of Jamaica and the sector to be offering this gesture is an indication of the strong bond and cooperation between private and public sector entities," he stated.
The promotional aspect of the relief effort will be anchored by the JTB public relations agencies worldwide, said Mr. Shields.
In the meantime Mr. Peterkin has lauded the quick response by his members. "Within one day of approaching our members with the idea, they were ready to assist. They are truly fantastic; they are always coming through in times of need."
