LOS ANGELES – The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) was selected as the “Official International Tourist Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” at TravelAge West’s 2010 WAVE Awards.
Jamaica and five of its hotels were also recognized as Editor’s Picks in the categories of “Best Destination for Honeymoon/Romance Vacation,” “Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean,” “Best Resort for a Romance Vacation, Caribbean” and “Best All-Inclusive Resort, Caribbean.”
TravelAge West, the leading travel industry trade publication in the western United States, presents the awards annually to recognize travel-supplier partners who provide outstanding qualities and services.
The awards were presented on June 10 at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in California.
Dian Holland, Jamaica Tourist Board business development manager in Los Angeles.
Dian Holland, the JTB’s business development manager in Los Angeles, who was on-hand to represent the JTB commented, “I’ve worked alongside these travel agents, promoting Jamaica for more than 30 years now. It’s an honor to have this bestowed on my country by those that have become both friends and business partners.”
The Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, Ken Shapiro, and the entire editorial team review the candidates and select the Editor’s Pick award recipients. The review and selection process consists of product analysis, on-site events, a survey of a selected group of travel agents and online research. The Travel Agent professionals and the readers and visitors to TravelAge West then choose their favorite candidate from the Editor’s Pick to receive the WAVE Award for that category. The “Official International Tourist Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” is the one exception, as it is a write-in award. Travel agent professionals throughout the 14 western states, the readers of TravelAge West and all visitors to www.TravelAgeWest.com nominate who they feel should win the award without the recommendation of the Editor’s Picks.
“This year’s ‘Tourist Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support’ vote confirmed what we have seen and heard from our readers in the past — that the Jamaica Tourist Board stands by agents and helps them grow their Caribbean business,” said TravelAge West Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro. “The support our audience and industry showed the Jamaica Tourist Board this year speaks volumes to the support the board clearly gives travel agents in return.”
The Jamaican hotels recognized this year include:
Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean
· Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall (Jamaica)
Best Resort for a Romance Vacation, Caribbean
· Couples Swept Away (Jamaica)
· Sunset at the Palms (Jamaica)
· The Caves (Jamaica)
Best All-Inclusive Resort, Caribbean
· Sandals Whitehouse European Village (Jamaica)
John Lynch
“It is an honor to be recognized by such a prominent industry staple, as TravelAge West,” said Jamaica’s Director of Tourism John Lynch. “We work hard to assist our travel agents and appreciate that they recognize the support we strive to provide.”
