Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade
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UK Launch Sets Stage for Week-Long Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival
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LONDON (JIS):
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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The 2010 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival had its United Kingdom (UK) launch on November 12, at the trendy Boujis nightclub in South Kensington, London. The Festival will be held from January 24 to 30, instead of three days as in previous years.
Between January 24 and 27, there will be performances at different hotels in and around Montego Bay, St. James. There will also be several parties and other activities related to the Festival.
World renowned performers, such as Ms. Jennifer Hudson, Billy Ocean, Roy Ayers, Robin Banks, Hall and Oates, John Secada, Third World, Monty Alexander and Tamia will take part in the festival. Maxi Priest, who will also appear at the Festival, entertained guests at the launch party with a live performance.
Walter Elmore of Turnkey Productions explained that the Festival always provided a boost for Jamaica's hotel and tourist industries and with its extension to seven days, there would be many more opportunities to provide activities for a wider range of visitors, such as daytime events for cruise-ship passengers, who will have to leave before the normal evening activities begin.
Chief Operating Officer of Sunset Resorts Mr. Craig Martin, thanked everyone on behalf of the hoteliers of Jamaica, underlining the importance of the Festival to the hotel industry.
During the launch it was also announced that on December 4 and 5 there will be Usain Bolt's 9.58 Super Party, the first in a series of worldwide events planned by the Jamaican track superstar to raise money for the United Way. Several top Jamaican popular music acts are slated to perform at the party and several prominent figures from the world of sports have been invited to attend.
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who was in the United Kingdom for a series of official engagements, including the annual World Travel Market, thanked the organisers and encouraged everyone to come to the Festival, and assured them that they would have a wonderful time in Jamaica.
Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch and Director General in the Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Carole Guntley, also attended the launch.
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