Jamaica Meetings Mean No Problem

While Jamaica is synonymous with a beach getaway to most visitors, for other travelers the Caribbean's largest English language island means boardrooms, ballrooms, and breakouts. Jamaica continues to grow as a meeting and incentive destination.      

"We have seen a definite increase from the properties including the all-inclusives for a larger percentage of their business to be from meetings," explains Marcia Bullock, Manager, Groups and Conventions with the Jamaica Tourist Board.        

While the meetings market continues to grow, Bullock notes that the recent slowdown in many US business sectors has called for caution on the part of some meeting groups. "With the economy, what we have seen is that groups in the tentative stage are postponing a couple of months. We're also seeing a shorter lead time in bookings; we're seeing three to six months instead of six- to 12-month bookings. However, the incentive market rarely fluctuates. The more challenges in the economy, the more the company needs to provide incentives to its top employees."

Along with traditional corporate groups, Jamaica is also targeting special interest groups: social, military, educational, religious and fraternal (SMERF). This market includes an increasing number of family reunions as well as large wedding parties.

KINGSTON

The heart of Jamaica's business world is its capital city of Kingston, on the island's south side. "Kingston continues to be a very specialized market: associations, African American groups, and religious markets," notes Bullock. "This is because there are many churches headquartered there. Also, African American groups have an interest in culture and history. We're also seeing groups who have a need for the specialized facilities of the Jamaica Conference Centre."

The Jamaica Conference Centre is one of the Caribbean's leading facilities for meetings that require simultaneous translation services. The center's need for simultaneous translation is due to its role as headquarters for the International Seabed Authority, an arm of the United Nations. Built to UN specifications, the center is equipped with simultaneous translation facilities for six languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian and Arabic. 

Located on the waterfront in downtown Kingston, around-the-clock security protects the center which includes a print shop, press area to accommodate up to 40 journalists, clinic, business services office, delegates lounges, and a cafeteria with seating for up to 250 attendees. Adjacent to the cafeteria lies a 2,400-square-foot Exhibition Hall with track lighting. Downstairs, a reception foyer offers a documents distribution center, travel agency, Air Jamaica desk, limited postal services, and commercial banking services.

When it's time to get down to business, the facility includes five conference rooms as well as smaller caucus rooms. Conference Room 1 accommodates 1200 attendees in a fixed semi-circular seating and has an audience-polling system; arrangement for video conferencing to this room or the other conference rooms can be made in collaboration with Cable and Wireless Jamaica Ltd. ISDN circuits are available video conferencing.

Although the center was constructed in 1982, internet access is up to today's standards. Provided by Cable and Wireless Jamaica Limited, high speed access using ISDN, T1, T3, and European standard E1 and E3 high-capacity lines is available.

Most of the business and convention hotels in Kingston are located in New Kingston. Courtleigh Hotel and Suites offers five meeting rooms to accommodate from six in a boardroom setting to 120 for an evening cocktail reception. The 303-room Hilton Kingston offers a Cyber Centre with internet services, faxing, digital copiers, and other services. The hotel includes a videoconferencing facility with access to 45 countries worldwide. Jamaica Pegasus can host groups of up to 1000 attendees in its 11 meeting rooms; its offerings include the Talk of the Town, a 17th floor lounge with a view of the city available for formal events.

NORTH COAST
           
The North Coast resort cities are traditionally considered the domain of leisure travelers but the resorts are now also attracting meetings groups. All-inclusive resorts continue to grow in popularity with meeting planners. "All inclusives are easier for meeting planners because of budgets," says Marcia Bullock. "There is a high satisfaction rate at the all-inclusives, and the value perception is very high."

Sandals and Beaches resorts have seen a growing demand for meeting space at the north coast properties. "We've had good growth in the meetings and incentives division. The reason is quite simple: the client is happy to project a firm budget," explains John Lynch, Executive Vice-President Sales Worldwide of Unique Vacations. "The trend is going to continue because you can draw a budget, write the check and know exactly how much the event will cost. All of our hotels have meeting space. Most have five to six restaurants, and it's not a big thing to convert a restaurant to a meeting room in the day."

The company has met the growing demand with meeting space at its newest properties. Sandals Grande Ocho Rios includes a 250-seat ballroom and a pavilion area that can accommodate up to 450 guests; the resort also offers two board rooms. Also in Ocho Rios, Royal Plantation is especially attractive to high-end groups. Fifty to sixty percent of the resort's 75 suites can be booked for a group.

SuperClubs is also meeting increasing demand with new meeting space. Grand Lido Sans Souci has doubled its meeting space and can host groups of up to 140 attendees theater style in its meeting room. Grand Lido Braco offers over 1,600 square feet of meeting space in the indoor meeting room and two open-air verandahs of its Jamaican style courthouse. The 230-room Breezes Runaway Bay remodeled its conference facilities for up to 100 attendees theater style in the conference room; the nightclub is also available for up to 300 delegates theater style. Grand Lido Negril offers meeting facilities for up to 200 attendees, classrooms style.

Meeting groups interested in staying in touch via the Internet will find CyberCenters at several SuperClubs properties, starting with Grand Lido Negril. "Now guests can come to Jamaica and enjoy their vacation knowing not only are they not far from Internet access, they don't need to be encumbered by the extra baggage load of computers," said SuperClubs' Executive Chairman John Issa. Rates are billed based on time online. Data ports will also be installed in all guest rooms. Also in Negril, Swept Away is home to a 4,500-square-foot conference center including a divisible conference room and a small executive meeting room, and dining.

In Ocho Rios, the 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa, which underwent a multimillion dollar renovation in 2005, is home to Jamaica’s largest meeting space with 32,000 square feet for group use including an exhibit hall available for receptions of up to 2,500 attendees.

In Montego Bay, Half Moon is home to over 25,000 square feet of meeting space including a conference center. The resort also offers Royal Villas, each with five to seven bedrooms, a swimming pool, and private staff; located near the conference center and golf course, the villas can be used for team building and networking for small groups.

Also in Montego Bay, the 430-room Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall features 16,000 square feet of meeting space; the 10,800-square-foot ballroom is divisible into three separate rooms and also offers 5,000 square feet of outdoor pre-function space. In all, the meeting facilities can accommodate up to 800 delegates.

JTB's Bullock notes that each resort area on the North Coast holds special appeal for meeting groups. "Each area offers a different style. It comes down to personal taste of the group. I think it depends largely on how long the group has on the island. If they have three or four nights, they choose Montego Bay; if they have longer, they might select one of the other areas. In Jamaica, it comes down to personal taste and budget."

Like the leisure market, the peak months for travel in the meetings and incentives market are January, February and March; however, association groups, who often pay their own way, most commonly visit the island during the summer months.