Minister Bartlett launches incentive programme for Canadian travel agents

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has launched the Jamaica Travel Jamboree, an incentive programme for Canadian travel agents.
The launch took place on December 8, at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Toronto, Canada, with approximately 250 travel agents present.
The programme will identify the top 100 travel agents who sell Jamaica to their clients and treat them to an all expense-paid vacation of five days of fun and frolic in the island next June.
Emphasising that the Jamaica Travel Jamboree is designed specifically for Canadian travel agents, Mr. Bartlett said it is a celebration of the partnership between Jamaica and the Canadian travel trade industry, which has seen the number of Canadian visitors to Jamaica tripling in five years, from just a little over 100,000 in 2005 to an expected 330,000 by the end of this year.
District Sales Manager of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in Canada, Dan Hamilton, said the Jamaica Travel Jamboree will be an annual event to reward those travel agents who send the most clients to Jamaica.
“Over the last few years the Canadian marketplace has grown by leaps and bounds. And we know that happened, because you continue to support Jamaica. Although we might have new lifts or new products on the ground, if you don’t sell Jamaica our rooms remain empty and our airline seats remain empty. So, the Jamaica Travel Jamboree will recognise and acknowledge our top sellers, and reward excellence in tourism,” he told the travel agents.
Explaining further how the programme will work, Mr. Hamilton said “all bookings made between December 15 and April 15 will qualify for entry. All our tour operator partners are on board and will fly the qualifying agents from their closest major gateway. Our hotel partners are also on board and will accommodate the top Canadian producers,” said Mr. Hamilton.
The winning travel agents will take part in the Jamaica Travel Jamboree from June 9-14, 2011.
Also present were Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto, Mr. Seth George Ramocan and Mrs. Lola Ramocan; and the JTB’s Regional Director for Canada, Ms. Sandra Scott.