Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
United States R&B artiste Lyfe Jennings on stage last night at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay, St. James. Jennings was imprisoned at age 16 for 10 years, and that's where he rediscovered his love for music. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
AN AVERAGE of 2,000 additional jobs have been provided as a result of the mega Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues 2006, while Air Jamaica and local hoteliers are reaping vast benefits from the annual festival.
The event, which will cost organisers Turn Key Productions $75 million to stage ($10 million more than last year), has attracted 1,000 pre-bookings of tourists from tour operators and hundreds of overseas Jamaicans have converged on the tourism capital.
"The Air Jamaica flights are booked solid, coming out of the north east area of the United States, which includes New York and Newark," Executive Director of the event, Walter Elmore, told The Gleaner.
ENORMOUS IMPACT ON HOTELS
Elmore's comments have been cemented by Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association President, Horace Peterkin, who said the impact on the hotel industry has been enormous.
According to hotel reports, though January would have been medium to high for the resort town, increased business from the festival has led to 100 per cent occupancy levels with some persons having to stay as far away as Negril and Runaway Bay.
"Had it not been for jazz our hotels would not have done so well," said Peterkin, who is also general manager of Sandals Montego Bay.
The other resort areas are currently experiencing 70 to 80 per cent occupancy levels, and have reaped some of the spill over from the Montego Bay hotels.
Restaurants and nightclub operators are also extremely optimistic about the event.
"It's very good for Montego Bay, it keeps the spotlight on the city," said Brian Jardim, chief executive officer of Marguerites by the Sea and Margaritaville.
"More than anything else the event affects our food business, which will do well as usual during the period," Fritz Anderson, sales and marketing manager of the Coral Cliff Hotel and Entertainment Resort, confirmed to The Gleaner. Anderson noted that, on Sunday in particular, he is expecting all the spill overs, both for the signature brunch and the live entertainment that the complex has become known for.
The festival has also managed to reach the small business owners, vendors, hair braiders and taxi drivers directly
and indirectly.
