Prior to joining Round Hill, Josef served as assistant manager at Coconut Cove in Negril, later moving to the Tryall Golf and Beach Hotel as resident manager. Soon after, he was named general manager at the Trident Villas and Hotel in Port Antonio, Jamaica before settling in at Round Hill.
Josef’s passion and enthusiasm for Jamaica and the Caribbean led to his appointment in April 2010 as President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA). During his tenure from 2010 to 2012, Josef raised awareness of the importance of tourism throughout the Caribbean with the CHTA’s “Tourism is Key” advocacy campaign.
He is also dedicated to promoting locally produced products from beer and rum to sauces and agricultural products to support local economies. In addition, Josef strives to strengthen local flavors of the various islands, promoting regional Caribbean cuisine through various culinary festivals and competitions. Finally, Josef is working with the CHTA to promote the Caribbean as the best warm weather destination in the western hemisphere through a targeted regional marketing campaign.
Josef currently serves as a director of the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Montego Bay Arts Council. He is the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Austria in Jamaica. In 2005 Josef received The Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer for his contribution to Jamaica’s tourism industry. He was named Hotelier of the Year by the JHTA in 1993 and 1996 and Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel Association in 2007. Josef was born in Steyr, Austria and is fluent in German, English and French. He holds Jamaican and Austrian citizenships. He attended the University of Salzburg where he studied Economic Sciences and Tourism.
