The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) ushered in a new chapter of leadership at its 63rd annual general meeting (AGM) with the election of a new executive team led by Christopher Jarrett.

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, during the AGM at Dreams Rose Hall Resort & Spa in St James, stakeholders in the tourism sector cast their ballots for Jarret, the CEO of Altamont Hotels Group, to lead the lobby organisation for hoteliers, attractions owners and managers, and transport services providers for the 2025/2026 term.

Jarrett now leads an executive team comprising O’Brian Heron, the general manager of Sandals South Coast, as first vice-president; Kerry-Ann Quallo-Casserly, the regional commercial director of sales at Royalton Blue Diamond Resorts as second vice-president; Vana Taylor of Sky Castles as third vice-president; and Nadine Spence of SIXT Rent A Car as fourth vice-president.

Jarrett, who heads Altamont Court Hotel in New Kingston, Altamont West in Montego Bay, and the newest addition to the group, Hotel 39 in Montego Bay, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve.

Outlining the priorities for his term, he said, “I intend to foster a more vocal and visible association—one that actively engages the public on the issues that matter to our members, both hotels and allied partners. Advocacy, transparency, and responsiveness will be the hallmarks of this administration as we continue work to protect and promote Jamaica’s tourism interests.”

The incoming JHTA president succeeds Robin Russell, general manager of Deja Resorts, who served three impactful terms.

During his tenure, Russell led the JHTA through a period of transformation marked by a comprehensive structural review of the organisation. Other highlights of his terms of office include a landmark memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen hotel-farmer supply chains and critical partnerships with national agencies to support crime reduction, water infrastructure improvements, and tourism resilience planning.

Under Russel’s leadership, the JHTA also returned to full compliance with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), completed office renovations, and implemented contributions to the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme.

In his farewell remarks, Russell stated: “I encourage us all to continue to work as one—embracing time, technology, prospecting new markets, and prioritising sustainable growth. Thank you for your trust and your partnership during my tenure. I hope you will extend the same level of support to our new leadership. May our collective efforts continue to make Jamaica and tourism possible.”

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett commended the JHTA for its unwavering partnership and praised Russell’s steady leadership.

“The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association has a strong foot today on which to take giant steps into the future,” he said.

“The absolute and strong support that you’ve given me as minister has made an immeasurable impact. Our footprints are all over the world, and when the name Jamaica is mentioned, tourism is expressed with positivity and strength. At no other point in our political cycle have we seen this level of investment interest and hard dollars flowing into the sector. That is because of you, the real partners and drivers of this process. I commend you, and I want you to know that you have a minister and a government that believes in you.”

The AGM closed with renewed optimism, unity, and a clear call to action as the JHTA positions itself to lead Jamaica’s tourism industry into a new era of advocacy, innovation, and growth.