By Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer 
The Half Moon Hotel's conference centre.
WESTERN BUREAU:
JAMAICA HAS won the bid to host the region's largest and most important tourism marketing event, the 25th Annual Caribbean Marketplace. The event is set to take place at the Half Moon Hotel, Montego Bay, January 9-11, 2005.
The announcement was made yesterday by Alec Sanguinetti, director general of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) at the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) 43rd annual general meeting at the Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios.
Caribbean Marketplace brings over 200 international buyer companies (tour operators and wholesalers), represented by 400 buyer delegates who, over two days, meet and negotiate rates with some 600 supplier delegates representing hotels, ground handlers and attraction operators from 32 different Caribbean nations.
Industry sources say the island stands to earn more than $60 million from an investment of 2,800 room nights, taxes and general spending by the hundreds of delegates that the conference attracts annually. And although the country will need to fork out an estimated US$1.2 Million to host the event, tourism experts project that the benefits outweigh the expenditure.
"The long-term effect the event will have on the island is much more than we can pay for," said Horace Peterkin, first vice-president of the JHTA. Mr. Peterkin led the steering committee that won the submission. He said that Jamaica is currently "the buzz" in region, so a lot of persons will attend because its being held here. At the end of the event, the value of future business and the exposure to the numerous trade press will be a significant factor.
For years Jamaican tourism interests have lobbied to host this event, but because of the absence of a large convention centre the country was not even considered. In fact in the last nine years, seven marketplace events have been held in Spanish-speaking destinations, because they have the facilities available to host the event. The two Spanish speaking destinations, Cancun and Puerto Rico, which have been hosting the event, have had tremendous spin-offs from it, stated Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism. He said Marketplace being hosted in Jamaica is the security of pre-booked business for at least the next five years. It will be a fabulous opportunity for all the buyers globally to see the Jamaican product. He said outside of an event like Marketplace the country could not get them here in such in an environment.
The Tourism Director confirmed that the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has already committed US$500,000 from its marketing budget to assist with the staging of the event. And the United Kingdom-based Virgin Holidays has written a cheque for US$250,000 to Jamaica. Industry players such as Sandals are putting up cash of US$100,000 and Half Moon US$50,000, with commitments already from the Wyndham group cemented.
In the meantime, Jamaica still does not have the "right conference facility" in place, but the team proposed the erection of a 50,000 square ft air-conditioned tent on the 400 acres Half Moon property.
"We have the passion, the savvy and the drive to make Caribbean Marketplace 2005, the best ever," said Horace Peterkin. Caribbean Marketplace is staged by the Caribbean Hotel Association, the event was last held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in January .
