Tourism Outlook Seminar Jamaica... A Success!

Tourism Outlook Seminar...A Success!

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, February 2010.- The Third Annual Tourism Outlook Seminar, held over two days at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, began with the theme of thinking out of the box, actually getting rid of the box, in an effort to stimulate creative thinking in an environment for future survival of tourism in the Caribbean.

Bill Milligan and Yndiana Montes were part of the invited press

Regional and international leaders discussed the present atmosphere, its future and strategies for surviving shrinking dollars in a contracted economy, especially in the US and UK. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmond Bartlett noted that new markets, investment, and technology were essential to weather this economic storm and prepare for the unknown in the future. Feedback received from the attendees was very positive and the Minister announced that this seminar will be planned again for 2010, and proudly called it “The Davos of Tourism”.

Maloney represented the travel agents (ASTA)

The session “Maintaining the Competitive Edge” was chaired by Hugh Riley, and travel agents were represented by William Maloney, Chief Executive Offices of ASTA. “Dealing with the Changing Travel Distribution Channels” discussed the negative impact on travel agents with the burgeoning Internet market, via Web exchanges for traveling professionals, buyers guides, learning communities, Facebook, blogs, etc. Too much media information according to Maloney is now overtaxing the potential tourist, and this is where travel agents can step in and sort out the multitude of confusing paths, ensuring the tourist a hassle free vacation.

Bill in one of his interventions as a member of the International Press

Among the presenters were John Lynch, Director of the Jamaica Tourism Board, Carlos Vogeler, UNWTO’s Regional Representative for the Americas; Hugh Riley, Secretary General and CEO of Caribbean Tourism Organization, Alec Sanguinetti, CD –Director General & CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Association, Jim Brody, International sales Manager-Destination marketing of TripAdvisor, Logan Stanton, World Economic Forum’s Head of North America, Williard Phillips, ECLAC’s Economic Affairs Officer, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Tourism of The Bahamas, and Chad Meyerson, head of Sales Caribbean and Latin America of JetBlue Airways.

Yndie interviewing Hugh Riley

The deliberations on opening day included a session on Maintaining the Competitive Edge, chaired by Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Hugh Riley and Marketing in a time of rapid fire Changes, the first of two panel discussions to be moderated by David Shields, Deputy Director of Tourism, Marketing at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

Lynch commented on increased charter flights from major Canada cities, but also noted the difficulty for Latin American markets, due to visa hassles coming through Miami. Direct charters from major Latin American cities, possibly new routes coming through Cancun (Mexico) or other Caribbean islands could circumvent these major obstacles. We know that JTB is putting a plan together for exploring the potential of entering Latin America.

Carlos Vogeler, Alec Sanguinetti, Minister Barlett and glamorous Mrs. Flavia Sanguinetti at the opening reception at the Hilton Rose Hall

Alec Sanguinetti, Director General & CEO of CTHA presented an overview of the Strategies for Intra Regional Travel Marketing, noting this is decreasing due to the lack of flights and the high cost of aviation travel as compared with cruise lines. “The reality is that our challenge is not that we do not know what to do, our failure is a lack of implementation of the things that we have agreed to do”, he said referring to the San Juan Accord of 2007. Another topic of financial concern for the hoteliers is the major advantage the cruise ships have, in that they pay minimal fees for port calls, the tourists spend little money for their time in port, and the hospitality industry suffers financially. Cruise ships circumvent visa issues, something the airline industry can’t shake.

JTB Director Noel Lynch, Yndie, Minister Barlett and Carlos Vogeler in one of the cozy coffee breaks

“Innovation Through Technology” was the opening session of the second day, and left more than one delegate with mouths wide open. Social media (Non-traditional Media) and social networking are taking front stage these days. More and more hotels are investing time, tracking, even on a daily basis, what blogs, Facebook etc. are now saying to them. We asked opinions of several presenters, among them Carlos Vogeler, and the response was unanimous: the tourism sector needs to wake up to this burgeoning social networking, lest they be left in the dust.

Hugh Riley and Jorn Gieschen

“Barriers to Growth, Tax and Visa Issues” was delivered by Hugh Riley, Secretary General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization on the second day. He discussed the ongoing progressive increase in departure taxes from London, England, and how it has impacted all Caribbean markets. Giving an example, he said that, “now for a family of four, the cost of a Caribbean vacation is approximately 300 pounds extra, just in departure taxes. With the current British policy this portends a gloomy market for the near future”.

Chad Meyerson, JetBlue

Airlift is as important as water for the tourism industry, and that’s why the Panel Discussion “The Roadmap to Recovery: Effective Airlift” moderated by David Shields, the Marketing Deputy Director of Tourism, received impressive participation from attendees. The “new kid on the block” was Chad Meyerson, Head of Sales Caribbean & Latin America of JetBlue Airways, whose presentation “Perspective from a Superior service Low Fare Carrier” helped minimize the negative image, previously associated with low cost airlines. The panel of experts included Air Jamaica’s President and CEO Bruce Nobles; US Airways’ Manager International Route Planning Brian Council; and British Airways Head of UK & Ireland Sales and Marketing, Richard Tams.

Carlos Vogeler, Carolle Guntley, Yndie and Bill

At the closing cocktail party, Carrole Guntley summed it up in three words: “Nothing but good” from this seminar. She received compliments from Carlos Vogeler (UNWTO): “JTB made excellent choices on the speakers. No session was too long, coffee and snack breaks were superb and I was very impressed with the participation of the delegates, the engagements, the questions..., I think the expectations for the Third Tourism Outlook next year in Jamaica are going to be outstanding ”, he said.

For more information about the Seminar, and to find out more about the presenters, please go to:
http://www.visitjamaica.com/tourismseminar/overview.aspx
Bill and Yndie are thankfull for the invite to JTB and its PR agency in NY, Ruderfinn.