Go! Jamaica Travel tops Ocean hotels’ travel agents awards
Published:Monday | April 21, 2025 | 12:06 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Local travel agency Go! Jamaica Travel emerged as the overall winner at this year’s Ocean Coral Spring and Ocean Eden Bay Annual Travel Agents Awards, staged last week under the theme ‘Feel the Ocean: Under the Sea’.
The agency, led by Dave Chin Tung, was named Top Travel Agency for Ocean Eden Bay and, for the first time, overall champion across both Ocean Coral Spring and Ocean Eden Bay, a surprising but well-earned accolade.
“I know we did very well selling Ocean Eden Bay, but to be the overall winner is a shocker,” Chin Tung admitted.
“The entire hotel staff, from bell captains to housekeeping, dining room, check-in, and sales, has become like one big, happy family. Always greeting me on and off property. Sales, I swear, is the best I’ve worked with at any hotel in Jamaica.”
As part of their grand prize package, Go! Jamaica Travel walked away with more than just plaques. They received 14 complimentary room nights at Ocean Eden Bay; 10 day passes; a five-night/six-day stay at any H10 Hotels property in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, or Mexico; and a US$800 flight credit, an impressive reward for their unwavering commitment to the brand.
Loyalty ‘stood out’
Tanesha Clarke, director of sales and marketing for the resort, praised the agency’s long-standing support.
“Go! Jamaica Travel has been a consistent supporter since the properties opened,” Clarke said. “This past year, we had a phenomenal run with MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) business from them, and their loyalty truly stood out.”
Clarke shared that local agencies accounted for just over 10,000 room nights in 2024, contributing two per cent to total bookings. While business remained flat compared to 2023, there was significant growth in group travel, particularly corporate retreats and meetings, thanks to the resort’s ideal facilities and convenient location.
Other standout partners included Leisure for Pleasure, which retained its title as top agency for Ocean Coral Spring for the third consecutive year, and Unlimited Connections, which secured third place overall.
To celebrate their top 20 travel agency partners, Ocean Hotels rolled out a lavish itinerary that included a champagne catamaran sunset cruise, virtual planet reality games, scavenger hunts, watersports, spa treatments, and a spectacular awards dinner.
“Our local travel agencies have played an impactful role in driving occupancy, especially when needed most,” Clarke added. “We sincerely thank them and look forward to continued growth together in 2025.”