Uncategorized – Page 2 – Jamaica Tourist Board

Jamaica???s chefs have once again tantalized the palates of trendsetters, food lovers, tennis fans, top chefs and pro tennis players at this year???s Taste of Tennis event?? in New York. The Jamaica Tourist Board partnered with Palace Resorts, Miss Lily???s, Appleton Jamaican Rum, Red Stripe and Xaymaca Coffee in hosting the Home of All Right Lounge at the event at W New York Hotel in August. Executive Chef Adam Schop and Chef de Cuisine Andre Fowles, Food Network???s ???Chopped Champion??? from Miss Lily’s, served the classic pastrami sandwich adding a Jamaican twist with mouthwatering jerk brisket on a toasted pretzel bun topped with scotch bonnet mustard and coleslaw. Dennis McIntosh, Executive Chef of Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, prepared green plantains topped with fried red snapper and spicy vegetables.
The popularity of Jamaican cuisine has grown tremendously with the opening up of many Jamaican restaurants across North America and Europe. Jamaican chefs have successfully blended cooking techniques, spices and recipes to contribute to one of the most flavourful cuisines in the world. Some of our outstanding chefs who continue to fly the epicurean flag high are Chef Martin Maginley, Chef Dennis McIntosh and Chefs Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau. The multi-award-winning Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food awardee, Chef Martin Maginley has enriched the culinary experience for many, having worked at 4 and 5 star hotels in Jamaica and Canada, he is the current Head Chef at Round Hill Villas and Spa. He has appeared on The Today Show, Fox 5 Morning Show, and others, performing live demonstrations and has been featured in publications such as Food & Wine and Caribbean Travel & Life. Chef Martin was instrumental in the creation of the highly successful “Epicurean Escape” in association with Food & Wine. Chef Martin continues to tantalise the palates of his guests with authentic Jamaican fare, affirming that what’s uniquely Jamaican can pass muster anywhere in the world. Chef Dennis McIntosh grew up in Nest Castle, a small community in St Thomas but at the age of eight, he and members of his family migrated to England. During his early years he developed a deep appreciation for the art of fine cuisine and later enrolled in the Henley College to study culinary arts. Chef McIntosh set about creating his culinary path by working in Germany, England, the United States, and Bermuda, before returning to Jamaica in 1990 to take up his first executive chef position. A standard bearer for Jamaican cuisine, Chef McIntosh has appeared on Food Network Channel, and in 2012 was the guest chef in Brussels, Belgium, at the request of the Jamaican Embassy for the 50th year of independence celebrations. As President of the Culinary Federation of Jamaica he is paying it forward by assiduously providing opportunities and exposure for up and coming chefs. Growing up in a family with a deep appreciation for good food, and being surrounded by fresh ingredients, Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau were introduced to the culinary world from a tender age. Not only chefs, they are also the authors of Caribbean Potluck: Modern Recipes from Our Family Kitchen. The book is a compilation of the stories of their lives in the food business. Both sisters have catered an impressive roster of events including weddings for Hollywood actresses Drew Berrymore and Reese Witherspoon, as well as dinner for Charles, Prince of Wales. The two sisters opened their first restaurant, Ciao Bella in 1996, which evolved from a caf?? to a fine dining restaurant. They also designed the menu at Usain Bolt???s Track and Records. The Rousseau Sisters have definitely made it their point of duty to showcase Jamaican cuisine to the world. These are just some of the Jamaican food ambassadors who continue to make their mark in the culinary world with use of our bold flavours and passion.
Sept 25-October 1 the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies will mark World Tourism Day and Tourism Awareness Week next month under the theme: Tourism For All: Promoting Universal Accessibility. Several activities are being planned to celebrate the week.
Over 20,000 visitors packed into Jamaica House 2016 during the staging of the recently concluded Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The cultural hub for all things Jamaican hosted at the Prado Jockey Club in G??vea, Rio, was the place to be for fans, athletes, dignitaries, celebrities and international media. With Jamaica House as the centerpiece of its Olympics strategy, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) created a robust public and social media programme to promote the destination. For its efforts over 1.8 billion media impressions were amassed globally for Jamaica House including features on international broadcast stations such as BBC, CNN and MSNBC as well as popular Brazilian stations like Globo Television. More than 180 travel agents were welcomed through the hospitality hub providing them with a taste of the cuisine and culture to be experienced by clients when they visit Jamaica. ???Not only was Jamaica a tremendous success in the world???s premier sporting arena, but Jamaica House was truly the place to be in Rio as thousands of visitors lined up each day to experience Destination Jamaica,??? said Paul Pennicook, Jamaica???s Director of Tourism.
As the countdown continues to the single largest sporting event this Summer, the XXXI Olympiad, Jamaica House 2016 was launched in Kingston on Wednesday, July 13, 2016.attending the launch were Minister of Tourism The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Culture, Entertainment, Gender and Sport, The Hon. Olivia Grange, and Deputy Director of Tourism Jason Hall, who has portfolio responsibility for the initiative.Jamaica House, which will run from August 10 to 21 at The Jockey Club, South of Rio, will present an interactive experience for visitors, bringing Jamaican culture and flavours to the hot spot of Rio de Janiero. Jamaica House will operate daily from 2 pm to midnight with a host of activities scheduled throughout the day, including destination presentations to the travel trade, culinary expos??s, dance classes, consumer promotions, VIP client hosting and viewing of the races as they happen.
Sagicor X Fund disclosed in its annual report last week that it has acquired two properties in St James, collectively known as the northern estate, which will be used for the expansion of the Hilton Hotel, itself acquired in early 2015. The properties are Cinnamon Hill and Success Estate.
Dr Lorna Simmonds, CEO of Harmonisation Ltd, indicates that the casino resort Harmony Cove is on track to break ground in 2017. The company is planning a large integrated resort development located near Duncans in Trelawny. Harmony Cove, owned by the National Housing Trust (NHT) and Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) under Harmonisation Ltd and Tavistock Ltd, is one of two companies which have been given preliminary approval for approved integrated resort development status, which ??? if granted ??? will open doors to a casino gaming licence. The first phase of the Trelawny project, consisting of 1,000 rooms, is valued at US$900 million. In addition to 1,000 hotel rooms, the resort is expected to feature multiple restaurants and retail shops and a build-out of infrastructure support. Later it is expected that full room count will reach 5,000.
By the last quarter of 2016, the Port Authority of Jamaica expects to hand over a modern market facility to Falmouth valued at $300 million, replacing the current ‘bend down market’ in the historic capital of Trelawny. Showcasing the new facility to Godfrey Dyer, chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), on Tuesday, chairman and CEO of the Port Authority, Professor Gordon Shirley, said the market will have the capacity to accommodate some 370 vendors.The market is getting a spot in the new commercial district being created by private- and public-sector interests, Shirley said. The developments in Falmouth aim to enhance the cruise product, stimulate and re-energise commercial activity, create business opportunities and facilitate cultural and social exchange between cruise visitors and locals. Construction on the new market commenced in April 2015 and is nearly complete. Other plans for the town include construction of a civic centre, to be spearheaded by the Trelawny Parish Council; and a shopping mall is to be developed across the street from the market.
The Ministry of Tourism is pushing ahead with plans to construct artisan villages in resort areas across the island. Portfolio Minister Edmund Bartlett says the first facility will be built in Ocho Rios, with others to be established in Montego Bay, Falmouth, Port Antonio, and Negril over the next five years. The minister said the venues would be “onestop shops” for authentic Jamaican food, music, heritage, and craft. The facilities, the minister noted, would provide an avenue for Jamaican artists and craftsmen to expose and express their creativity, while limiting the volume of imported craft items that are being sold in the industry.
This is the home of reggae. We believe very strongly in promoting the music because the music is one of those things that makes us different from everybody else,” said Paul Pennicook, director of tourism, after signing the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) endorsement of Reggae Sumfest. The official endorsement took place at the JTB’s New Kingston offices. Reggae Sumfest vice-chairman and co-producer Robert Russell welcomed the JTB’s support.”They have welcomed the change we have initiated this year.” Russell said. The initiative is geared towards increasing the festival’s international appeal. The team intends to take Reggae Sumfest on a United States tour. “Some very big international companies have approached us on this,” Josef Bogdanovich, Reggae Sumfest Chairman revealed. However, right now the team is more focused on executing the transition of the Reggae Sumfest brand as smoothly as possible. “People who come to Jamaica to Reggae Sumfest, they are really coming to see reggae music,” Russell reiterated. “They’re not coming to see an American artiste because they can see those people in America.
Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) is the island???s stellar travel trade show. Held April 29 to MAY 1 the show is hosted by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). The tradeshow has grown to become a flagship event generates lucrative business for Jamaican organizations. Part of the JTB???s responsibility is to invite and facilitate the attendance of international media to the event. The media in attendance came from diverse markets such as North America, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. The journalists had the opportunity to attend meetings that provided important information on critical segments in the industry. The journalists also met with members of the attractions, accommodations and linkages sectors on the floor of the tradeshow. After JAPEX, the JTB coordinated a media tour to various attractions, accommodations, eateries entertainment and cultural events across the island. This exposure will generate a buzz in the overseas market about the island.