TPDConnect December 2017 | Page 5

MINISTER BARTLETT LAUNCHES To recognize the individuals and organizations that continue to make significant contributions to Jamaica’s thriving tourism sector, Minister of Tourism Honourable Edmund Bartlett officially launched the Tourism Service Excellence Awards (TSEA) on Tuesday November 14, 2017 at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston. TSEA, which was conceptualized by Minister Bartlett in 2008, is led by the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCO) and is geared at recognizing and rewarding both individuals and organizations that exemplify service excellence in the Jamaican tourism sector. In addition, realizing the impact of the quality of the interface between the visitor and the tourism worker, and their experience with tourism services, TSEA seeks to uphold awardees who display outstanding performance. The awards programme, the Minister states also came about after trying to find a way to give back to those who play a major role in the advancement of the tourism sector. “We had to create an arena to showcase, to reward, in a less tangible but a more meaningful way and to respond to the need for you (tourism workers) to feel respected and honoured because it is the crew that has enabled this ship of tourism, and it is the crew we want to celebrate, to extol in all its values and virtues and exemplify as the symbol of excellence in our space.” The Minister said during his address (L-R) Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, 2016 Tourism Service Excellence Awards (TSEA) Individual National Champion, Massage Therapist, Sandals Royal Plantation, Simone Ffolkes, representing Organization National Champion, Couples Sans Souci, General Manager, Pierre Battaglia and Executive Director, Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo), Dr, Andrew Spencer flashed bright smiles for the camera during the launch of the TSEA launch.