15 Canadian advisors recognized as top producing Jamaica Travel Specialists
The 50 top producing Jamaica Travel Specialists from Canada, the Caribbean, the US and UK/Europe were celebrated on location in Jamaica from Dec. 12-15 during the One Love Affair event at the newly opened Princess Grand Jamaica.
This year 15 travel advisors from across Canada were recognized as the best of the best and two agents made the prestigious top 10 list.
“This event is in its 13th year of celebrating our top performing agents who have registered their bookings within a year — their bookings are calculated per night, per guest, per booking. It is such a critical program because it helps us to recognize the true performers that are selling Jamaica,” Angella Bennett, regional director, Canada of the Jamaica Tourist Board, told PressToday in destination for the event. “With this recognition we are so thankful for the direction, the focus and the strategy that they’ve given Jamaica to perform at a very optimal level. For the entire North America — US and Canada — these are the biggest portion of the producers, and out of Canada we’ve earned 15 places out of 50 this year, so we are growing. We also recognize the UK, the Caribbean and Europe agents as well, but this was created for North America to recognize and to honour our agents that support Jamaica and continue to build the numbers for Jamaica.”
Along with the One Love Affair awards gala night, multiple special events and activities were planned for the advisors like an elegant white night at Couples Negril and a variety of destination experiences including an Island Routes catamaran tour along the Negril coast, zip-lining with Chukka Caribbean Adventures and lunch on the beach at a private island.
“It’s almost a three-day affair that we design and conceptualize for the most exquisite weekend for them in honour of their production. This weekend is usually recognized by our minister of tourism, our director of tourism and, of course, all our regional directors,” Bennett said. “The three days are starting with a welcome party that is usually at the host hotel, followed by our signature white party that is usually hosted by an additional hotel and then we end with our gala. This is like the Oscars of travel, where we recognize our top 50, top 10 and top five.”
Over the past few days, the top producers were treated to roundtrip flights to the destination, complimentary accommodations, a spa treatment and a Roast By Bresheh bag made in Jamaica. All advisors also earned a return three-night stay at Princess Grand Jamaica to come back with their families.
Dawn Rzepka and Chantal Sabourin recognized in the top 10
The top producing Canadian Jamaica Travel Specialists for 2024 are:
- Dawn Rzepka, Luxe Destination Weddings
- Chantal Sabourin, Voyage Club Évasion
- Sharon Loppie, Travel Bug Travel
- Nicole Deforest, Tripcentral.ca
- Micaela Bramble, Intimate Affairs and Escapes
- Lois Barbour, Travel Time Agency
- Angela Waite, Direct Travel
- Andrea Hudson Lindsay, Your Travel Genie
- Courtney Pilon, Champagne Weddings and Travel
- Yvonne Campbell, Yvonne’s Travel and Tours
- Karen Teddy, FareConnect.com
- Radha Yipchuk, Titan Tours
- Pauline Blacoe, Shine Travel
- Vanessa Martinez, Unforgettable Escapes
- Robyn Arnold, Sell Off Vacations
“These are the people who drive tremendous volume of business to Jamaica,” Dan Hamilton, district sales manager for the JTB said on stage at the One Love Affair gala. “They are here because they are producers. They earned their spot to be here.”
Travel advisors in the top 10 were presented with additional awards and Rzepka (who was unable to attend but had a colleague accept on her behalf) made the top 5 and Sabourin was in the top 10.
“This year Jamaica has continued to lead the Caribbean with record-breaking arrivals, innovative product offerings and a commitment to sustainability. None of this would be possible without your unwavering support,” noted Philip Rose, deputy director of tourism for the Americas for the JTB. “You are the storytellers who inspire dreams of our paradise. You are the navigators who help travellers find their way to our shores. You are the architects of the unforgettable. As we chart our path forward, I want to share how vital you are to our shared success. Your feedback, your insights and your creativity help us grow and evolve. Together we are not just meeting the expectations of travellers, we are exceeding them time and time again. Today, we say thank you not just as business partners but as family, because that’s one what One Love is all about.”
Lois Barbour of Travel Time Agency in St. John’s, Newfoundland has been in attendance roughly 10 times and said the reason she sells Jamaica is simple.
“It’s the people,” she explained. “The folks from the JTB in Canada are like family, both personally and professionally. That was reinforced when we went through the experience two years ago of our son suffering a stroke in Chile. They heard about it and were very thoughtful and kind and reached out and sent flowers that I brought to him in the rehab centre once we arrived back in Canada. And to this day it’s one of the first questions when we meet — ‘how is Ben? We are following his story and pray for him.’ So, it is certainly a meaningful caring professional relationship which is what my experience has been with Jamaica and the JTB.”
New hires in Canada
In support of the travel trade, the Jamaica Tourist Board has two new BDM team members from Jamaica in Canada. Oral Chambers is taking over in Ontario for the Durham area and Sedrecia Francis (pictured above) is heading up Western Canada efforts.
“We are ramping up, we are really increasing our presence in Canada, and hopefully this will result in a bigger number of arrivals to Jamaica,” Bennett said.
Canada currently accounts for 395,000 annual visitors to Jamaica with the goal of reaching 500,000 by 2026.
“I was was based in the Kingston office for 10 years and I’m excited about promoting destination Jamaica and working with partners in Western Canada to keep Jamaica top of mind as a preferred warm weather destination,” said Francis, who will be based in Calgary. “I’m really looking forward to this new adventure, working with the travel advisors and partners, and bringing my passion there for my destination. I’ve learned so much here about what we have to offer.”
For more on the family-friendly Princess Grand Jamaica and the adults-only Princess Senses the Mangrove, check out tomorrow’s newsletter.
