Nominations for Gleaner’s Hospitality Jamaica Awards now open

WESTERN BUREAU:

Nominations are now open for the fifth anniversary staging of the prestigious Gleaner’s Hospitality Jamaica Awards, which will take place on Saturday, November 9, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

The event, one of the signature attractions on the calendar of the local hospitality industry, is designed to highlight and showcase the successes of those players, to include individuals, resorts, attractions, and entertainment events, that have made an exemplary contribution to the development of the sector.

Nominations for this year’s staging will be closed on September 30. Subsequent to the closing of the nominations, voting will commence, using a special website.

Janet Silvera, who has been the coordinator of Hospitality Jamaica since its inception 14 years ago, says the 2019 edition of the awards will be a glitzy affair, steeped in glamour and entertainment. She is expected to pull out some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry.

“It is critical for us to recognise and celebrate the individuals, organisations, and entities that make Jamaica the destination that it is – the diversity that we offer, that is not known everywhere else, and the uniqueness that is Jamaica,” said Silvera. “That is what we are seeking to recognise with these awards.”

New attractions

This year, the event will feature four new attractions, which Silvera believes will open the door to more persons being recognised and awarded for their contributions. The four categories are: Best Opening Of The Year, Best-Kept Secret, Best Cultural Experience/Tour, and Entertainment – Best Event.

“Four brand-new categories have been added to this year’s list of awards, increasing the total to 17. Three companies or individuals will be shortlisted for each category,” said Silvera.

“We have decided on this format because all of these come together to form a large part of what makes the hospitality industry what it is.”

She added: “The Entertainment – Best Event category will showcase events like Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute, Dream Weekend, and Buju Banton’s Long Walk To Freedom, which all attracted significant numbers of visitors to the island and positively impacted our tourism product.”

As part of its bold effort to outdo 2017, which generated significant local and regional attention, with Kevin Hendrickson walking away with the coveted Hospitality Jamaica Personality of The Year Award, and hotel industry mogul Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart copping the Pioneer Award, Silvera said a recipient who has not been named will be accorded the Pioneer Award, which is a break from tradition.

 

 

RJRGleaner Hospitality Jamaica Awards 2019

        

ACCOMMODATION

 

- Best All-Inclusive over 300 rooms

- Best All-Inclusive under 300 rooms

- Best EP/Business  

- Best Small/ Boutique

- Best Eco/Sustainable 

*Best Opening of the Year

[Best hotel launch of the year 2019]

 

TOURISM

- Best Attraction 

- Best Cultural Experience/Tour

- Best Tour Operator

- Best Purveyor 

- * Best Kept Secret 

[Off-the-beaten path tourism entity] 

- Best Resort Town

 

FOOD

- Best Cuisine 

 

ENTERTAINMENT 

- Best in Nightlife 

- Best Event 

- Hospitality Personality of the Year

* selected by the judges

To submit your nominations, write to hospitalityjamaica@gleanerjm.com or send a fax to 876-952-3828.