JTB, Local Hotels Recognised By Travelage West Magazine

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) was selected as the “Official International Tourist Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” at TravelAge West’s 2010 WAVE Awards.
Jamaica and five of its hotels were also recognised as Editor’s Picks in the categories of “Best Destination for Honeymoon/Romance Vacation,” “Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean,” “Best Resort for a Romance Vacation, Caribbean” and “Best All-Inclusive Resort, Caribbean.”
TravelAge West, the leading travel industry trade publication in the western United States, presents the awards annually to recognise travel-supplier partners who provide outstanding qualities and services. The awards were presented on June 10 at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in California.
The hotels recognised this year are, Iberostar Grand, Rose Hall, St. James for best New Resort or Major Renovation in the Caribbean; Couples Sunset at the Palms, which swept the category for a Resort for a Romance Vacation in the Caribbean; and Sandals Whitehouse European Village, which won in the category for best All-Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean.
JTB’s business development manager in Los Angeles, Dian Holland, who was on-hand to represent the Board, said it was an honour to have Jamaica so recognised “by those that have become both friends and business partners”.
Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, Ken Shapiro, and the entire editorial team, reviewed the candidates and selected the Editor’s Pick award recipients.
The review and selection process consists of product analysis, on-site events, a survey of a selected group of travel agents and online research. The Travel Agent professionals and the readers and visitors to TravelAge West then choose their favourite candidate from the Editor’s Pick to receive the WAVE Award for that category.
The “Official International Tourist Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” is the one exception, as it is a write-in award. Travel professionals throughout the 14 western states, the readers of TravelAge West and all visitors to www.TravelAgeWest.com nominate whom they feel should win the award without the recommendation of the Editor’s Picks.
“This year’s ‘Tourist Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support’ vote confirmed what we have seen and heard from our readers in the past – that the Jamaica Tourist Board stands by agents and helps them grow their Caribbean business,” said TravelAge West Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro.
Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, John Lynch, in commenting on the award said it was an honour to be recognised by such a prominent industry staple, as TravelAge West.
“We work hard to assist our travel agents and appreciate that they recognise the support we strive to provide,” Mr. Lynch said.