Tourism Minister Hails TPDCo

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has hailed the Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCo) for its critical role in the advancement of the nation’s tourism sector.

He said the entity continues to be a custodian of integrity and quality advancing the reputational value of the industry.

“TPDCo stands in the gap between the promise made to the (tourists) in the marketplace and the experience they have when they get here,” the Minister pointed
out.

He was addressing TPDCo’s staff service awards luncheon at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St. Catherine on Tuesday (July 18).

Minister Bartlett said the company will be required to play an even greater role as the country’s tourism product continues to evolve to meet the needs of the
marketplace.

“You have a larger role to play because the product is evolving; the experiences are changing and the attitude of our visitors and customers are equally in
that state of constant transition,” he pointed out.

He said TPDCo will be required to be “nimble and adaptive” in order to ensure that Jamaica maintains its hold on tourism.

Turning to developments at the Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC), Minister Bartlett said the facility registered a 65 per cent increase in revenue for the
fiscal year ending March 31.

There was also a 13 per cent reduction in operating expenses over the prior fiscal year and a 41 per cent increase in the number of meetings held at the MBCC.

Mr. Bartlett informed that the MBCC is “now on the path for the first time to break even in its operational expenses over revenue”.

“This tells you that with application, with serious management, with marketing…we have proven that a public good, which a convention centre provides, offers opportunities for economic activity in other areas,” he said.

For his part, Chairman of the TPDCo, Ian Dear, congratulated the award recipients, who were recognised in the categories of Overachievers, Regional Star Performers, Innovator of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Manager of the Year.

“As you receive your respective awards feel proud of your accomplishments and let these awards continue to motivate you to increased levels of productivity and inspire you to achieve improvements in the service quality to our stakeholders,” he urged.

He told the members of staff that they are expected to deliver exceptional results in ensuring the continued success of tourism, which is a key sector for job creation, foreign exchange earnings and socio-economic empowerment.

The Manager of the Year award went to Community Awareness Coordinator, Marlene Stephenson-Dally, for 2013/14 and 2014/15; and Former Procurement Manager, Julian Thompson for 2015/16.

Employee of the Year for 2013/14 went to Doreen Forrester and Lorna Newsome for 2015/16.