MINISTER of Tourism Edmund Bartlett was recognised with the inaugural Chairman’s Award for Global Tourism Innovation at the 2019 Travvy Awards held in New York City, last Wednesday.

Bartlett was honoured for the development of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) situated in Jamaica.

The award was collected by Delano Seiveright, senior advisor/strategist at the ministry, on the minister’s behalf, as Bartlett was attending the international tourism trade fair, FITUR, in Spain as well as concluding negotiations with two new hotel brands preparing to develop in Jamaica.

The award to Bartlett was among five major ones taken by Jamaica at the function. The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) won the best Tourist Board in the Caribbean award, while Jamaica also won: Best Wedding Destination; Best Honeymoon Destination; and Best Culinary Destination, to thunderous applause from the packed hall of primarily American travel industry stakeholders.

“I am truly humbled. We accept these awards on behalf of Jamaica and our tourism stakeholders who continue to be thought leaders. As for the Global Tourism Innovation award it is very timely, given the fact that we are about to officially launch the centre which is one of a kind and will be a serious game changer for tourism worldwide,” Minister Bartlett said in a message from Madrid.

The Travvy Awards team in its official comment on the award noted that the introduction of the Centre for Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management by the tourism minister, and the foreseen positive impact it will have on tourism, has placed him and Jamaica at the top of the list.

“His role within the United Nations World Tourism Organisation is a clear representation as to his commitment to advancing tourism financially, culturally and in a sustainable manner,” the team said.

The official launch of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre was scheduled for yesterday during Caribbean Travel Marketplace at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

The annual Travvy Awards — known as the Academy Awards of the travel industry — were held at Gotham Hall in New York City to recognise the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry by honouring travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievement.

This year, more than 100,000 votes — the largest voting block of travel agents in history — were cast to determine the 2019 Travvy Awards winners.

Donnie Dawson, deputy director of tourism covering the Americas, and other JTB managers were among members of the team which attended the event.