Negril Travel and Things to Do Guide

Surrounded by tranquil, azure waters and blessed with an average year-round temperature of 27°C, it's no wonder that Jamaica welcomes more than 1.7 million visitors each year. Jamaica's two major airports, Donald Sangster International and Norman Manley International, provide a gateway from most major cities in the United States. Once in Jamaica, visitors will find the country's welcoming hospitality at every turn. From the taxi drivers who are more than happy to spout facts about their beloved homeland to market vendors extending their hands with the official greeting, "Welcome Home," Jamaica thrives on its unsurpassed quality of service. The country even has a transportation system specifically for visitors called JUTA, a fleet of luxury coaches, buses, and air conditioned cars that provide visitors with comfortable transportation and memorable personalized service.
With several new additions on the horizon, Jamaica is blossoming as a premiere meetings destination. The Montego Bay Convention opened in 2011; it is located in the Rose Hall area of Mo’ Bay and offers 140,000 square feet of space for meetings, exhibitions and events.
Jamaica does not disappoint in its current meeting venues. Located in Jamaica's capital of Kingston, the Jamaica Conference Centre demonstrates the elegance and beauty of Jamaican architecture. The center was first established in 1983 to accommodate the preparatory meetings of the International Seabed Authority, an arm of the United Nations. The facility features five conference rooms, three caucus rooms, a 2,400-square-foot exhibit hall, private dining room and several lounges. The biggest of the five conference rooms can accommodate groups as large as 1,050 people.
For an unparalleled island experience, Jamaica's many unique venues and lavish resorts offer meeting planners an air of the exotic that is unmatched by any continental city. Groups can enjoy the serene spaces of the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club. Tucked between the Jamaican mountains and the waters of the Caribbean, this former 18th century sugar plantation can accommodate groups of up to 800 people indoors or many more guests outdoors at one of several scenic settings, such as the lovely 12,000-square-meter Aqueduct. The National Gallery of Jamaica offers smaller groups a backdrop of vivid hues, stunning sculptures and brilliant masterworks, while the Half Moon Resort and Country Club is an elegant, colonial-style resort offering more than 27,000 square feet of indoor space including the striking 12,000-square-foot Cornwall Ballroom. Additionally, groups of up to 120 people can enjoy cool island breezes and views of the sea from all three of the award-winning Round Hill Resort's stylish meeting spaces.
Jamaica's welcoming embrace coupled with its festive spirit make it a powerhouse for events year round. Drawing worldwide attention, Jamaica is best known for the passionate sounds of reggae made famous by the legendary performer Bob Marley. The musical genres of dancehall, rock steady, ska and mento also originated on the island. Jamaica's musical roots are integral to several of the island's lively annual events including the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Heineken Startime, the Rebel Salute Music Festival, International Reggae Day and the American Jazz and Blues Festival. Other popular events include the National Festival of the Arts, the Port Antonio International Fishing Tournament, the Jamaican Coffee Festival, Heritage Fest and Carnival.
Several corporations are headquartered in Jamaica including Sandals Resort International, Air Jamaica, GraceKennedy, Ltd., Digicel and Red Stripe. In addition, several colleges and universities call Jamaica home including The University of the West Indies-Mona Campus, the University of Technology-Jamaica, the Northern Caribbean University, and the University College of the Caribbean and the International University of the Caribbean.