JTB to update SITE on the destination’s product offerings and capabilities for this specific market

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica has been selected to host this year’s International Board of Directors Meeting for the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Global.

The meeting, which comprises the top planners in the incentive travel business from countries around the world, from the United States (US) and Canada to Europe, Egypt, China and beyond, kicks off tomorrow (June 20) and runs to June 23.  

Jamaica winning the bid to host this year’s meeting further reinforces its position as one of the world’s leading destinations for tourism and meetings.

The country is poised to benefit from hosting this event, as the island nation continues its strong tourism rebound this summer.

“Being selected to host this international meeting over any other destination in the world right now amounts to a huge vote of confidence for Jamaica by incentive travel planners across the globe,” declared Jamaica’s Director of Tourism Donovan White.

He pointed out that, “incentive group business is an important component of our tourism sector that brings in valuable revenue to our stakeholder partners and to our economy overall”.

For his part, John Woolcock, JTB’s manager, groups & conventions, Jamaica Tourist Board, remarked: “We’re thrilled to have won the bid to host this important international group on island this June as they will share their expertise with us, ensuring Jamaica remains on the pulse of the incentive travel market.”

JTB to update SITE on its product offerings

In addition to holding their annual meeting, SITE’s International Board of Directors will be updated by the Jamaica Tourist Board on the destination’s product offerings and capabilities for this specific market. Local tourism businesses, who supply services for incentive groups will also be invited to attend and network with planners who have the potential to send business to our shores.

The JTB will take the SITE group on tour to showcase the destination’s product offerings, enabling them to learn firsthand about on island experiences and how Jamaica works with local supplier partners to cater for Incentive group programmes.

Kevin Edmunds, president, SITE 2022 and vice president, AIC Hotel Group, commented that the SITE board was excited to meet in this truly motivational destination.

He added that, “as we move into a post pandemic marketplace, SITE believes the deployment of incentive travel will become even more widespread as corporations seek to motivate and re-energise their teams. With its easy access, great infrastructure and undoubted all round destination appeal, Jamaica is the perfect destination to deliver high levels of motivation and energy”.

In August 2021, Jamaica served as the host destination for SITE’s US Midwest Chapter’s Second Annual SMART Forum. Approximately 50 incentive travel planners were in attendance and many are now selling Jamaica as a destination.