On Saturday March 17, 2018, the Montego Bay Convention Centre was transformed into a night of glitz and
glamour. The 21 semi – finalists of the Tourism Service Excellence Awards, along with their guests and the tourism
fraternity all congregated to find out who would be the winners of the prestigious 2017 TSEA awards.
From the 126 nominees and 21 semi-finalists, Mikhailla Robinson of the Jamaica Pegasus was selected as the
Resort Area Champion for Kingston in the individual category and Hyatt Ziva and Zilara in the organization
category for the Montego Bay region. These two winners emerged as National Champions in the
Individual and Organization categories respectively.
Seven other individuals and organisations were bestowed Resort Area Champions. They are Shanique
Cunningham – Montego Bay, Romaine Meggo – Negril, Lennox Williams – Ocho Rios, Sandals South
Coast, Sandals Royal Plantation – Ocho Rios, Sandals Negril, Courtleigh Hotel and Suites – Kingston.
It was a pleasant surprise for some of the semi-finalists, who received special awards during the ceremony.
The winners for this category received some enviable prizes and awards, in the form of grocery vouchers from
Hi-Lo and scholarships amounting to over 1 million dollars from Western Hospitality Institute and HEART Trust
NTA. A special scholarship for post graduate studies was also offered by the Northern Caribbean University.
The winners of the special recognition category were John Byles, Chukka Adventures – Ocho Rios,
Sue McKenzie, The Judy House – Negril, Jomo Pitterson, Dunn’s River Falls and Park – Ocho Rios,
Janette Kaloo, Sunset Resorts and Villas - South Coast, Hopeton Powell, Olde Craft Market – Ocho Rios,
Winston Jones, Hyatt Ziva and Zilara – Montego Bay and Michelle Sterling, Amstar DMC – Montego Bay.
Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to the sponsors that helped to make the 2018 staging a success!
Visit our youtube page at Tourism Product Development Company Limited to see highlights of the TSEA ceremony.
The 2017 National Champions (2nd left) Mikhailla Robinson from the Jamaica Pegasus who won in the Individual category
and Betty- Ann Brown, representing the Organization winner, Hyatt Ziva and Zilara. Sharing in the moment are Dr. Andrew
Spencer and Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism
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