Island Vibrations - PDF

UPCOMING
Festivals & Events
SMIRNOFF DREAM WEEKEND
Negril, August 1 to 6
Held over six days, this year’s Smirnoff Dream
Weekend in Negril will feature 10 major events.
Smirnoff Dream Weekend continues to grow annually
– this year’s theme is “Larger than Life”.
jamaicadreamweekend.com
JAMAICA EPICUREAN
ESCAPE
St. Ann, November 2 & 3
The two-day food festival showcases mouthwatering
cuisine, celebrity chefs, fine wines and exciting
entertainment.
jamaicaepicureanescape.com
ANNIE’S REVENGE GOLF
TOURNAMENT
Montego Bay, November 20 to 24
Jamaica’s largest Pro-Am is sponsored by the Jamaica
Tourist Board and NIKE Golf and has quickly become
one of golf’s most popular winter tournaments with
teams from the US, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.
jamaicaproam.com
REGGAE
MARATHON
Negril, December 7
The marathon and half marathon are Jamaica’s
premier international marathon events with sport
enthusiasts converging on Negril for a fun event
with good vibes and lots of live reggae music.
reggaemarathon.com
HOTEL
& Resort
Updates
ISLAND OUTPOST
ANNOUNCES ULTIMATE
JAMES BOND ADVENTURE
The package includes private charter
via Magellan Jets and accommodations
at GoldenEye and Strawberry Hill.
Strawberry Hill
Other luxe experiences include
Jamaican cuisine on board the flight to
Kingston, “Bond-themed” gift baskets,
all ground transportation, dinner for
two at GoldenEye and two massages
at Strawberry Hill.
islandoutpost.com
VIP CLUB LAUNCHED AT
SANDALS RESORTS
On June 1, Sandals rolled out
Club Sandals for concierge and
butler level guests at their seven
resorts in Jamaica. Features of
Club Sandals include: private
check-in, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 use of
lounges, room service between
7:30am and 10pm and access to
concierge services.
sandals.com
RIU PALACE JAMAICA SET TO
OPEN IN DECEMBER
The Hotel Riu Palace Jamaica
is set to open in December near
Montego Bay. An adults-only,
all-inclusive hotel, this property
will offer a wide range of leisure
activities, a chill-out bar on the
beach, gym and Renova Spa.
riupalacejamaica.com
TERRA NOVA HOTEL
EVOLUTION NEARS
COMPLETION
An extensive multi-million dollar
renovation of the Terra Nova
All Suite Hotel in Kingston is on
track for completion in August.
The renovation will see the
redesign and upgrade of all
suites as well as the addition of
a new Regency Bar and Lounge
and Regency Patisserie that will
offer desserts until midnight
every day.
terranovajamaica.com
Devon House
PERIOD PIECES DONATED
TO DEVON HOUSE
Theresa Roberts, one of Europe’s
most prominent collectors of
Jamaican art, has presented Devon
House a number of 18th century
items valued around £3,500
including embroidered linens,
antique bathtubs, a tea set and
decorative plates, etc.
devonhousejamaica.com
OTHER RESORT UPDATES
The Riu Ocho Rios’ “Deluxe Wing”
will become an adults-only section
as of November 1 and The Oasis
at Sunset, Montego Bay, will open
November 1 (this was formerly the
Beach Inn section at Sunset Beach
Resort & Spa) with 124 upgraded
guestrooms.
riu.com
oasissunsetmontegobay.com
JAMAICA:
where jerk is
a good thing
Jerk Trail & Jerk
Festival Offer
Visitors Unique
Ways to Sample
Island Spice
is placed on raised platforms of
pimento wood over hot coals to
slowly roast for hours.
Jerk had its genesis in the hilly
interior of the island. The Maroons
(freed slaves who settled in the
mountains) devised this cooking
method to preserve meats. Today,
jerk is found in a multitude of forms:
from the traditional jerk pork or
chicken to jerk sausage or jerk
lobster and crab. You can even find
jerk ackee (Jamaica’s national fruit)
or tofu at some restaurants.
There are dozens of
restaurants and cook shops
across the island that either
specialize in jerk cuisine
or include it on their daily
menu. However, if you want
to participate in the jerk
experience, here are some
options:
Jamaica is known for several distinct
flavours, but jerk truly sets it apart.
Jamaican jerk is world famous and
can now be found in cities across the
globe. But the best place to taste it is
always at the source.
Jerk is a style of cooking (native
to Jamaica), in which meats are
rubbed with a spice rub made
from allspice (pimento), cinnamon,
peppers, onion, thyme and garlic
and marinated for hours before
cooking. After marinating, the meat
JERK TRAIL
The jerk trail was created to
assist visitors with navigating
the island’s many jerk stops,
from favourite roadside stands to
more traditional restaurants. This
island-wide culinary tour is selfguided and includes 22 spicy stops
from Negril at the western tip of the
island to Port Antonio in the east.
jamaicajerktrail.com
PORLAND JERK FESTIVAL
The parish of Portland is the
birthplace of jerk, which makes the
Portland Jerk Festival the best way
to celebrate this spicy food in its
many forms.
The festival is held annually in July
at the Folly Ruins in Port Antonio.
In addition to the culinary side,
Jamaican music and entertainment
for kids are also featured.
portlandjerkfestival.com
BOSTON BAY
Jerk Capital of Jamaica
Located in the parish of Portland,
Boston Bay is where jerk first
became popular. Year-round,
Boston Bay and the surrounding
roads are lined with a variety of
jerk stalls. A visit here is a great
way to rub shoulders with locals
and grab a picnic before heading
down to the beach.
JAMAICA HAS A REGION
THAT FITS EVERY WEDDING &
HONEYMOON STYLE
From the sophisticated bride to the couple seeking a “laid-back”
destination wedding and honeymoon, Jamaica has the ideal
location for the perfect island nuptials. Voted one of the “World’s
Most Romantic Destinations,” Jamaica has distinct locations with
characteristics as unique as a bride and groom.
SOPHISTICATED BRIDE
For the sophisticated bride, Montego Bay features elegant locations
on-and-off the beach, complete with tropical trimmings. Montego Bay
boasts a host of brand name resorts such as Sandals Resorts, Iberostar
Rose Hall Resorts, Hilton Rose Hall, Half Moon, A RockResort, and Round
Hill Resort & Villas – all with stellar dining offerings, full-service spas, golf
course options, and more. Montego Bay also features the new Montego
Bay Convention Centre for those needing an extra spacious wedding
facility. In addition, Port Antonio’s new Trident Castle is a sprawling sevenacre, eight-bedroom oceanfront estate that creates an exceptionally
unique retro-chic ambiance.
BOHEMIAN BEACH BRIDE
For the bride who prefers a laid-back island style mantra, Negril is a cliff
lover’s paradise and will serve as the picture perfect setting for a casual,
bohemian style wedding. The region’s Seven Mile Beach was recently
ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean on Trip Advisor’s
Traveler’s Choice Awards and resorts such as Rockhouse and The Caves
will offer couples a fancy-free wedding and honeymoon experience. The
Spa Retreat, an adult’s only luxury escape in Negril, will pamper couples for
an effortless island-style wedding.
ADVENTURE LOVERS
Jamaica is an ideal location for couples seeking adventure along with their
nuptials. With more attractions than any other English-speaking Caribbean
island, Jamaica boasts natural wonders such as Dunn’s River Falls and Fern
Gully in Ocho Rios, bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae, and mountain
biking in the Blue Mountains. Couples can also go off the grid with ATVs
through adventure outfitters including Island Routes Adventures and
Chukka Caribbean Adventures, or horseback riding in the ocean and
through lush greenery. Couples can also explore the island on a romantic
catamaran sunset cruise or fly through the forest on Mystic Mountain’s
heart-pumping bobsled mountain ride and canopy zipline tour.
WENDY:
THE JAMAICA
WEDDING
CONCIERGE
BUDGET CONSCIOUS BRIDE
For the couple seeking an affordable wedding or honeymoon getaway,
Port Antonio is one of Jamaica’s best kept secret and offers a variety of
options. Nestled between the majesty of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains and
the Caribbean Sea, Mocking Bird Hill is a luxury, eco-chic, boutique hotel
located just five minutes from the white sand beaches of Frenchman’s
Cove. A short ride takes you to ‘Reich Falls,’ which features water cascading
over limestone with jade-coloured pools deep enough for diving. The hotel
offers three themed wedding packages planned with nature, the local
community and sustainable tourism in mind.
The Jamaica Tourist Board has an online
concierge service called “Wendy” for couples
to use when planning their dream wedding
on the island. The online concierge ensures
that visitors receive the best fit for each taste
and budget. Couples can get to know the
Jamaican love guru at:
visitjamaica.com/weddings or on Twitter at
twitter.com/weddingsinja
EXPERIENTIAL
travel in jamaica
LEARNING VACATIONS ALLOW VISITORS TO SEE THE ISLAND FROM
NEW PERSPECTIVES
Jamaica offers several learning vacations for visitors to interact with
people on the island and gain authentic experiences as part of their
vacation itinerary. From meeting locals with like interests to exploring off
the beaten path locations, taking agricultural expeditions and learning how
to prepare Jamaican cuisine to share with friends and family back home,
Jamaica’s learning vacations provide an experiential travel adventure that’s
truly memorable.
PRESSING TUNES TOUR
According to Sean Paul, one of
Jamaica’s top dancehall artists:
“Music is the voice of the Jamaican
people.” Now, visitors can take
an inside look as to why. Hotel
Mocking Bird Hill and Backayard
magazine have partnered to create
the ultimate music excursion to
Kingston, the city where reggae
music began. The “Pressing Tunes”
historical music tour includes visits
to record companies’ studios,
music stores and a trip to the
Jamaica Music Museum, which
features rare musical recordings,
displays of iconic photographs and
instruments.
hotelmockingbirdhill.com
MEET THE PEOPLE
The Jamaica Tourist Board’s “Meet
the People” program pairs travellers
with a Jamaican who has similar
interests. The meet-up can take
place at a school, church, hiking trail,
local craft market or even a coffee
shop over some Jamaican Blue
Mountain coffee. The experience
is uniquely Jamaican and free of
charge for all travellers interested
in broadening their horizons. Simply
sign up online once you know your
travel dates.
visitjamaica.com
RASTAFARI INDIGENOUS
VILLAGE
While many know aspects of this
uniquely Jamaican philosophy,
few have experienced the
culture, language, music, dress,
spirit and lifestyle of Rastafari
for themselves. At the Rastafari
Indigenous Village, visitors learn
the self-sustaining and ecofriendly habits of the Rastafari
people through an interactive
visit -- a tour of medicinal herbal
gardens, trying their hands
at arts and crafts and finally
becoming part of the community
through drum rhythms and
ancient chants.
rastavillage.com
ORGANIC GARDENING
FOR KIDS
The Tryall Club comprises 86 private
villas atop a former sugar cane plot
with lush, fertile land. Tailored to kids
of all ages, their organic gardening
classes have transformed a private
herb and vegetable garden into a
playground where kids can learn
about an array of plants and how
to reduce their carbon footprint.
The garden produces items such as
Thai basil, edible hibiscus flowers,
mustard greens, and much more.
Participants are introduced to
organic methods of growing “super
foods”, learn sustainable habits and
receive cooking recipes.
tryallclub.com
UPCOMING
fams
Jamaica is particularly hot this year, and it’s not just the weather – reggae beats,
jerk flavours, colourful festivals and the widest variety of visitor attractions in
the Caribbean are guaranteed to add some spice to every visit.
For more information and to register for a FAM, go to visitjamaica.com/canada
and click on the “Fam Tour” tab. FAMs depart via WestJet or Air Canada
Vacations from major cities across Canada as follows:
TORONTO DEPARTURES
(5 NIGHTS – COST: $399)
• Aug 8 – 13 (WestJet)
• Sept 12 – 17 (WestJet)
• Sept 19 – 24 (WestJet): FAM for full time agent couples*
• Sept 26 – Oct 1 (WestJet)
• Oct 15 – 21 (Air Canada Vacations):
wedding specialists FAM** (6 nights)
• Nov 7 – 12 (WestJet)
• Nov 14 – 19 (WestJet)
OTTAWA DEPARTURE
(7 NIGHTS – COST: $499)
• Nov 23 – 30 (WestJet)
MONTREAL DEPARTURES
(7 NIGHTS – COST: $499)
• Oct 19 – 26 (Air Canada Vacations): general FAM
• Dec 7 – 14 (WestJet)
WINNIPEG DEPARTURES
(7 NIGHTS – COST: $499)
• Nov 2 – 9 (WestJet)
• Nov 30 – Dec 7 (WestJet)
VANCOUVER/CALGARY DEPARTURE
(6 NIGHTS – COST: $499)
• Nov 6 – 12 (Air Canada Vacations)
MARITIMES DEPARTURE
(6 NIGHTS – COST: $499)
*Note: Agents can fly from any major gateway in
the Maritimes (connects through Toronto)
• Dec 4 – 10 (Air Canada Vacations)
Agents reminded
to participate
in “ONE LOVE”
webinars
JOIN THE JAMAICA
TOURIST BOARD ON
Canadian travel agents are reminded to participate in the
Jamaica Tourist Board’s 2013 “One Love” webinar series. These
informative one-hour sessions provide agents with up-to-date
destination knowledge and tools to successfully sell Jamaica.
Upcoming webinars are scheduled for September 18 (general
update) and December 4 (general update). Go to the dedicated
Canadian agents’ page and click on “Webinars” for more details.
visitjamaica.com/canada
LIKE THE JTB CANADA ON FACEBOOK
VISIT JAMAICA, CANADA
Like
JOIN THE JTB CANADA
FAMS GROUP ON FACEBOOK
JAMAICA FAMS, CANADA
Join
HOW TO REACH US
QUEBEC & ATLANTIC CANADA
Louise Paquette
450.928.9859
[email protected]
ONTARIO, SOUTH WESTERN & METRO
Racquel Queensborough
416.482.7850
[email protected]
WESTERN CANADA
Emma Bowers (on maternity leave)
403.479.7444
[email protected]
ONTARIO, NORTH EASTERN & CENTRAL
Dan Hamilton
416.482.7850
[email protected]
JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD IN CANADA
303 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M4P 1L3
416.482.7850
Toll-free: 1.800.465.2624
Fax: 416.482.1730
[email protected]
visitjamaica.com