During the recent edition of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace held in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica had a strong presence with renowned hotel chains and tourism sector entities. In the destination area dedicated to Jamaica, we spoke with Maurice Bryan, Sales & Reservations Manager at Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, who emphasized the importance of promoting Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, as a comprehensive tourist destination.

“It’s important for Kingston to be recognized just as much as other areas of Jamaica. Everyone knows Negril, Montego Bay, or Ocho Rios for their beaches, but Kingston offers a unique blend of culture, entertainment, sports, nightlife, and dining,” said Bryan, who participated in the event alongside Nicola Madden-Greig, Group Director of Marketing at Courtleigh Hospitality Group and Immediate Past President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA).

Bryan highlighted that the group’s hotels in Kingston — including The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel — are not all-inclusive, specifically to encourage tourists to go out and explore the city. He pointed to major attractions such as the Bob Marley Museum, the Hope Gardens and Zoo, the Blue Mountains where Jamaica’s famous coffee is grown, and the historic area of Port Royal.

“The Pegasus is a 300-room hotel, fully equipped, with an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, jogging trails, and direct access to Emancipation Park,” he noted.

Regarding connectivity with Latin America, Bryan emphasized the increasing number of travelers arriving from countries such as the Dominican Republic, thanks to strong air connections with Jamaica’s two major international airports in Montego Bay and Kingston. “We invite everyone to check available flights and come experience Jamaica,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Nicola Madden-Greig, Group Director of Marketing and Sales at Courtleigh Hospitality Group and Immediate Past President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), took part in a key panel at the Caribbean Travel Forum just hours before the official opening of the marketplace. The session focused on local production and how tourism can drive other industries such as agriculture and entertainment, promoting sustainable economic development in communities.

Jamaica’s presence at the Caribbean Travel Marketplace reaffirms its strategy to go beyond sun-and-beach tourism by incorporating its rich cultural, historical, and culinary assets as key elements of attraction.