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Tourism's stars shine

Published:Sunday | June 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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A bouquet fit for a lady! Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett officially welcomes the new president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Evelyn Smith (centre), with a bouquet during the Tourism Service Excellence 2010 Awards on Saturday, June 4, at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, Montego Bay. Sharing in the occasion is director general of tourism, Carrole Guntley.- Photos Janet Silvera
Digicel's number-one woman in the west, Joy Clark, and her attorney-at-law husband, Maxim Clark, are spotted at the Tourism Service Excellence 2010 awards.
Spanish Court Hotel's Christopher Issa and his wife, Kimberley Mais, focus on the camera. - Photos Janet Silvera
Immediate past president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Wayne Cummings, and his date, TPDCo's Tara Kentish.
From left: Sandals Resorts International's Ann-Marie Morris and Shawn DaCosta with Shelle Tweedie of Wassi Art.
From left: Spanish Court Hotel's Lee-Ann Godfrey and fiancé Health 2000's Christopher Porter spend time with the new president of the JHTA, Evelyn Smith.
Chukka Caribbean's John and Paola Byles cosy up in the bar.
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Gary Spaulding, Gleaner Writer

Public Relations specialist Lindsay Isaacs and Chukka Caribbean Adventures emerged top individual and organisational performers, respectively, in the tourism sector for 2010 on a night when those who provided unstinting service to the sector last year were highlighted in the glimmer and glitter of a highly anticipated ceremony.

Even before brilliance in the form of the nominees and awardees were showcased at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, on Saturday, June 4, it was clear that the tourism ministry and its partners had pulled out all the stops to ensure another memorable Tourism Service Excellence Awards.

The breathtaking red and black décor that greeted attendees was illuminated by lit red candles and set a regal stage for an evening of grand expectations and pregnant anticipation.

toast of the evening

All the major players in the all-important sector were quick to endorse the annual event which highlights the bright sparks in the highly service-oriented industry that plays such a critical role in the local economy.

But it was the finalists - individuals and organisations - which shone in 2010 who were the toast of the evening.

They individuals were Laurel Scarlett-Francis, Sheldon Dinham and Errol Powell out of Montego Bay; Franklyn Wallace, Winston Bartley and Tannecea Jones-Campbell from Negril; Sonia Davis, Lorraine Francis-Kelly and Lyndsay Issacs out of Ocho Rios; Barrington Steer, Andrew Galling and Julian Maudrioe Sawby Rose from Kingston with the south coast's Julian Suckoo and Notoya Gayle rounding off the 14 finalists in this category.

Another 10 companies emerged as organisational finalists.

They were Tourwise, SandalsBreezes, Mystic Mountain out of Ocho Rios, Hedonism II; Rockhouse Hotel; Sandals Negril from that section of the island, Jake's Hotel Villas and SpaTw2o Seasons Guest House, Sandals Whitehouse from the south coast; Hotel Mockingbird Hill and Geejam out of Portland.

The near hour-long cocktail session had set the stage for what was to come.

The group of musical performers, including Alcian Richards; Jellessa Ellis along with Peter Ashbourne and Friends, among others who provided a menu of delectable sounds, set the mood.

adding the spice

Media personalities Marlene Stephenson Dalley, Dervan Malcolm and Racquel Jones added spice to the lavish affair.

It was a night when Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, the brainchild of the awards initiative three years ago, would have been proud as he was acknowledged repeatedly by senior players for his work in the sector.

By the pronouncements of tourism personalities, in only three years, the awards have become the service delivery benchmark of the industry.

Robert Russel, the chairman of the Tourism Development Company, described Barlett as a man with evangelical zeal and the awards as an important element of the new tourism product.

hardest-working minister

Godfrey, the chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, characterised Barlett as the hardest-working Tourism Minister he had encountered in all his years as a major player in the sector.

President of Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Evelyn Smith, said the awards had become an integral part of the success of (the tourism) industry and country.

For his part, Bartlett said the efforts of players in the sector continued to yield positive results, with preliminary figures showing a 7.3 per cent increase in visitor arrivals between January and April 2011.

Bartlett disclosed that 1,130, 744 visitors entered the island compared with 1,054,302 over the corresponding period in 2010.

The minister noted that in the faces of the challenges brought about by global recession, the tourism sector has defied the odds, growing each year of the last five years.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com