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MoBay - the meeting destination
State-of-the-art convention centre opens doors to overwhelming responseJanet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator
Urban Development Corporation's (UDC) general manager, Joy Douglas says the Jamaican government and China may realise returns on their investment in the US$50-million Montego Bay Convention Centre much faster than anticipated.
Merely months after opening its doors, the full-service, first-class facility is defying all odds and can boast bookings of some 23 groups from now until November 2011. Up to a year ago, it was predicted that the facility could likely become a white elephant, owing to lack of pre-marketing.
"We are being kept active with solid group bookings from local and regional groups," the centre's general manager, Dittie Guise, confirmed. Guise represents the international management company SMG, which provides services to more than 220 public-assembly facilities worldwide.
Guise revealed that the facility, which has the capacity to support groups of up to 6,000 theatre style, has attracted organisations such as the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which will host its 'Expo 2011', there. Others such as the St James Police Civic Committee will host its ball there in November, while Jampro and the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) 'Invest in Jamaica Forum', Caribiztech, Herbalife and PriceWaterhouse are all booked to stage events at the centre, back to back.
Phase II
Even more important is the fact that Phase II of the state-of-the-art facility is already being eyed by an international hotel chain, which wants to operate an anchor resort, although the project's next step has not gone to the market.
"We have been approached, and we haven't even called for proposal, or broken ground," said Douglas, adding that the plans related to Phase II were far advanced.
Excited about the prospects, the UDC head said, having signed with SMG, and ensuring the convention centre is up to par, she is now determined to guarantee that Jamaicans get value for their money.
The convention centre, the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, is the newest offering to the convention and conference industry. Conveniently located on Montego Bay's elegant corridor, the centre, which is approximately 10 minutes from the Sangster International Airport, neighbours over 4,00 hotel rooms, a full-service medical facility, three championship golf courses and shopping centres.
"We are like a four- to five-star luxury hotel," boasted Guise, while on a recent tour of the facility.
The luxury hotel she speaks of houses a grand ballroom, equipped with surround sound, plush carpeting, and fixed track lighting. "Track lighting and surround sound is important when you are having a major production," she revealed, noting that the built-in equipment helps to minimise other expenses to the client.
Outside the grand lobby are three pre-function areas, ideal for cocktail receptions, or registration in the case of a conference.
"At either end there is an Internet booth and plush furnishing, a plus, something you don't see in a lot of convention centres," she assured.
The grand ballroom, which is divisible, accommodates up to 2,000 theatre-style and 1,600 for banquets.
Designed with the look of a campus in mind, the facility takes on an imperial sort of architecture, owing to the number of columns it carries.
A must-see for anyone planning or contemplating a meeting, conference, trade show or major event, on one side the Montego Bay Convention Centre has nine meeting rooms, one of the largest built-in projectors on the island, an exhibition hall and a courtyard ideal for outside concerts.
Videoconferencing Services
The Montego Bay Convention Centre offers the capability of setting up a video conference and can provide this service in all meeting rooms, exhibit halls and ballrooms, says Guise. Videoconferencing is established through broadband Internet service. "If needed we can also provide a satellite downlink," said the convention centre head.
In the smaller rooms there is also a microphone interpreters' booth, equipped to accommodate over 200 different languages.
It is expected that the US$50-million complex, which received international funding from the Government of Jamaica and the EXIM Bank of China, will become an institution that generations of people will use.
It's also expected that the convention centre will have a huge economic impact: "It's already created 30 full-time and 20 part-time jobs and even more jobs in the future," says Joy Douglas.
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
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