Jamaica's Tourism Titans: Recent Episodes
Tourism Product Development Company Ltd
Personality profiles of persons who have made significant contributions to the development of tourism in Jamaica and the Caribbean region
Jamaica is known for its gastronomy. The Gap Cafe is nestled where the Blue and John Crow Mountains meet. It's known for its rustic charm and comfort cuisine. One lady who has contributed to Jamaica's capital city’s gastronomic scene is Gloria Palomino, through her ventures at the Gap Cafe and other restaurants like the Grog Shoppe and the Pizzeria at Devon House. Join us as we explore her journey.
He is a 40-year tourism stalwart who had his sights set on being a Doctor. As fate would have it, he got a job in a hotel and that sealed the deal for tourism. Meet the affable Clifton Reader OD, Vice Chairman of Palace Resorts Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Islands. He's a former Managing Director of the beautiful Moon Palace Jamaica and a past president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.
Our prolific volunteer with a big heart; meet Allasandra 'Sandy' Chung
After many years of service in Jamaica's hospitality and tourism sector this lady was awarded the Order of Distinction for invaluable contribution to the industry and for community development. She wore several hats at TPDCo - in Product Development, Community Tourism, Heritage and Cultural Tourism, in Business Development and more.
She believes that the people are at the heart of the industry and they should benefit in tangible ways.
Here's to another enlightening session featuring Dr. Susan Otuokon, who played an instrumental role in the designation of Jamaica’s Blue and John Crow Mountain National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Prepare to be captivated by Dr. Otuokon’s compelling narrative as she shares the challenges, triumphs, and invaluable insights gained throughout her journey.
She wears a charming smile and is a stickler for performance. She's the chief administrator in Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism and was awarded a national honour in 2018 for her sterling contribution to the country's tourism industry.
Meet Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary, a high achiever and one of the architects of Jamaica's Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development.
Join us as we get to know her a little better.
Our esteemed guest is none other than Professor Andrew Spencer, President of the Caribbean Maritime University, and a trailblazer in the field of tourism.
As the former Executive Director of TPDCo and the first full professor in tourism at the University of the West Indies, Professor Spencer brings a wealth of knowledge and over 50 scholarly publications to the table.
The Hatfield Cultural Group was formed in June, 1974 – Forty - nine (49) years ago. Although from very humble beginnings, in the small community of Hatfield in Westmoreland, the group has grown over the years and is presently based in Montego Bay, St. James.
Join us as we explore the extraordinary journey of John Byles, hosted by Marline Stephenson Dalley. This inspirational story is a must-listen!
Join us as we explore the extraordinary journey of Ian Williams, hosted by Marline Stephenson Dalley. This inspirational story is a must-listen!
Join us as we explore the extraordinary journey of Glen Bromfield, hosted by Marline Stephenson Dalley. This inspirational story is a must-listen!
He is articulate, dapper and full of life. An Author, Lecturer,Hospitality and Development Specialist and more. Meet Conroy Thompson. Conroywas awarded the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association Manager of the year in2018 and in the same year was the Tourism Product Development Company Limited's Regional and National Champion for the Tourism Service Excellence Program. Steepedin the management of Human Resources, he believes in achieving his fullpotential and is passionate about doing so. Join Marline Stephenson Dalley tohear more about another of Jamaica's Tourism Titans in this episode.
Our guest has a Boulevard in the Magic City of Montego Bay named in his honour. He is Dr. the Honourable Godfrey Glengoffe Dyer, Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, and a two-time President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. He has served on several public and private sector boards and is co-founder of Jamaica’s number-one music festival, SumFest.
His journey is laced with volunteerism not just locally but worldwide. As president of the Kiwanis International Foundation with jurisdiction over 90 countries across the world, he holds the distinction of being the only non-American to have held that position.
Join us for episode 13 of Jamaica’s Tourism Titans podcast with Marline Stephenson Dalley.
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Episode 12 of Jamaica's Tourism Titans takes us to the multiple award-winning, prestigious Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay Jamaica. There you will find not only luxurious accommodations, private villas, the Fern Tree Spa, golfing, horseback riding, private beaches and excellent staff, but the Caribbean hotelier of the year 2023, Shernette Crichton. What does it take to achieve such an honor? Crichton broke the glass ceiling by becoming the resort's first female General Manager in 2019. She has spent a lifetime learning, growing and honing her skills to take the lead at this tourism powerhouse. She's a committed and hardworking leader, mother, mentor, wife and more. Tune in and be inspired.https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tourism-product-development-company-ltd
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Our 11th Tourism Titan is a social entrepreneur and advocate for sustainable community development. Founder of Breds, the non-profit Treasure Beach Foundation, which promotes education, conservation and sports for social change. Our guest is anchored to the Treasure Beach community and Jamaica South Coast.
Meet Jason Henzell, a committed visionary who wears several hats and whose dad gave the world the epic movie, ‘The Harder They Come’.
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Our special guest on episode 10 of Jamaica's Tourism Titans, along with his wife, is the owner of a great house that sits high on a hill with an astonishing view of the Caribbean Sea. This great house built in the 1780s by the enormously wealthy Richard Barrett, cousin of the famous poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is still standing tall and preserved as part of a rich cultural heritage by Thomas Bob Betton. He was recognized by the council of the Institute of Jamaica with the Bronze Musgrave Medal for his contribution to the field of heritage preservation and by the National Association of Returning Residents for relentless work and commitment to restoring and preserving Greenwood Greathouse, which incidentally was declared a National Monument by the Jamaican National Heritage Trust in 2001.
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Meet Josef Forstmayr, culturally Austrian but emotionally Jamaican.
Josef has made the island his home since 1979 and from a young, man has thrown himself into the region's tourism industry. He is the managing director of the Round Hill Hotel and Villas since 1989 and under his direction, Round Hill has won countless awards.
He's the longest-serving director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, Honourary Consul for the Republic of Austria in Jamaica, and the recipient of several awards including Jamaica’s Order of Distinction for his contribution to the nation's tourism industry.
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She is passionate, full of life, and one who believes in Jamaica. President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Chairman of the Gastronomy Network, two-time recipient of the JHTA Presidents award, recipient of Jamaica’s Order of Distinction for her service in tourism, and the list goes on. Meet Nicola Madden Greig, Group Director of Marketing and Sales at the Courtleigh Hospitality Group on the next episode of Jamaica’s Tourism Titans.
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John Lynch has for over 40 years been woven into the tapestry of Jamaica’s Tourism. From Ground Transportation which marked his entry into the industry, to the Jamaica Tourist Board, Sandals Resorts, and then some. He was recognized by his country in 2017 with the Order of Distinction Commander Class for his service to the tourism industry. Join us as we talk with another of Jamaica’s Tourism Titans, Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch.
He has been president of the Duty-free Association of Jamaica since 2011 and is the Chairman of the Shopping Network of the Tourism Linkages Committee since 2016. His dad before him was Chairman of Bijoux, one of Jamaica’s pioneering duty-free establishments, and was a titan in many spheres. Meet Anup Chandiram, a duty-free entrepreneur for over 35 years on episode 6 of Jamaican’s Tourism Titans.
Marguerite Diana McIntyre-Pike O.D. BSc has over 44 years of pioneering services of Community Tourism locally, regionally and internationally. This founder of the Country Style Tourism Network and president of the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism - IIPT Caribbean, has been awarded multiple times for her contribution.
Our special guest on episode 4 of Jamaica's Tourism Titans podcast is Ainsley Henriques, who wears many hats. Proud of his Saint Thomas heritage, he's Historian, Genealogist and importantly, Storyteller. Be listening as we make the connection with his stories and tourism in Jamaica.
Our guest in today's podcast is Mrs Camille Needham. She's the Executive Director of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association JHTA and has been since her return from the United Kingdom in 1983; of course, the JHTA is one of Jamaica’s most prominent and influential national trade associations and represents the largest foreign exchange earner. She's had many achievements in her time. In 2013 she received the Prime Minister's medal of appreciation for service to Jamaica in recognition of her contribution to the field of tourism and just in 2021, she received the Order of Distinction Officer Class for services to tourism from the Government of Jamaica.
Enjoy!
She has served Her Majesty the Queen of England and movie stars, Princes, Presidents, and the Pope. She was the first woman appointed General Manager of the Pegasus and is one of Jamaica’s doyens of hospitality. Episode two of Jamaica’s Tourism Titans shines the spotlight on Nancy Mclean.
In this our first episode, hosted by Marline Stephenson Dalley, meet Jamaica’s effervescent, resilient and multiple award winning Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.