Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer

It's 61 days and counting to the start of the highly-anticipated Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, and Kingston's finest hotels say they are ready for the buzzing business the event is expected to bring this March.

Many are almost full and will be completely occupied by March 11 in time for the opening ceremony of the world's third largest games.

Nicola Madden-Greg, president of the Kingston chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), said all hotels in Kingston will enjoy 100 per cent occupancy once the CWC starts. Already some hotels are enjoying nearly full occupancy. Mrs. Madden-Greg, who is also marketing manager for the Knutsford Court and Courtleigh hotels in New Kingston, said those hotels are already enjoying 95 per cent occupancy.

High expectations

"It's relatively a high occupancy period, so yes we can expect a 100 per cent occupancy," Mrs. Madden-Greg told The Gleaner yesterday.

There are also signs that bed and breakfast accommodations, organised by private individuals who open their homes to temporarily house tourists, are also receiving their share of the market.

"I know some of the bed and breakfast have already started to receive bookings as well, but we are anticipating some more take-up in the next few weeks," she said.