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Sandals Resorts International and Ministry of Tourism Leveraging Radio Remotes to Boost Visitor Arrivals
MONTEGO BAY, May 11 (JIS): A week of live radio remotes from Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in St. Ann has showcased Jamaica’s resilient rebound from Hurricane Melissa, with Canadian and British hosts praising the island’s hospitality sector as not just reopened for business but “top tier and second to none”.
A joint venture between Sandals Resorts International and the Ministry of Tourism connected 11 international radio stations and one local
During a seven‑day stay at Sandals Ochi, the hosts conducted live broadcasts back to their home bases, toured the Ocho Rios area, and interviewed Sandals staff as well as students from the Exchange All-Age School in St. Ann.
The initiative also provided first‑hand observations of Jamaica’s ongoing tourism recovery and the enduring warmth of the island’s people.
“First-class stuff… Jamaica is such an amazingly beautiful place. If you didn’t know, there is no way you could tell that six months ago, the island experienced a category-five hurricane, which caused so much damage. [It is] such an amazing place; amazing and beautiful people,” Brian West, a radio host from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada said.
Broadcaster from London, England, Jada Sachira, shared similar sentiments.
“It was such a wonderful experience; I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The people have been so friendly and hard-working… everyone doing their part to ensure that visitors are well taken care of and to enjoy the Jamaican tourism product. Just breathtakingly beautiful. I want to come back for a longer stay,” she stated.
Another Canadia radio host, Patty Brown, underscored Jamaica’s iconic worker‑driven hospitality.
“You just have to come and see… that’s what I told my listeners. The Jamaican experience is simply magical… my first time here but definitely won’t be my last,” she stated.
Regional Public Relations Manager for Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Lyndsay Isaacs, noted that the radio remotes have historically been highly successful, offering a tangible window into Jamaica’s tourism product for listeners.
“It’s a case of reporting back to their listeners what they have experienced first-hand. Sandals, along with the Ministry of Tourism, have been doing this kind of radio remotes for years and we find it very successful. It’s different and more emotional this time, seeing that we have been in a recovery state following Hurricane Melissa, which badly affected the sector. But look at us now – fully open for business,” Ms. Isaacs stated.
Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis, praised the event for highlighting community hospitality and economic resilience.
“This radio remote has highlighted Jamaica’s unity and endurance in rebuilding the tourism sector. The people of St. Ann, and Jamaica as a whole, have demonstrated that hospitality is in our DNA,’ Mr. Belnavis stated.
Poko Loko Floating Bar’s owner Anthony Warren, offered another insider’s view, noting that positive results should come from the on-the-ground visits and live broadcasts from the radio hosts.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the initiative is a strong signal of Jamaica’s competitive rebound in Caribbean travel.
“The radio remote’s reach is a testament to Jamaica’s continued relevance as a premier tourism destination. We have not only recovered but we have also elevated the Jamaican experience to a level that is unmatched in the region,” Mr. Bartlett said.
The collaborative event, which mobilised 11 international radio stations and one local outlet, demonstrates Jamaica’s aggressive post‑Melissa recovery strategy and reinforces the island’s reputation for warm hospitality and world‑class attractions.
Radio remotes have been popularly used as a vehicle by both the Ministry of Tourism and Sandals Resorts International as a means of reaching out directly to radio audiences in Jamaica’s biggest source markets: the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.