Jamaica Is Back and Welcoming Groups Again | Jamaica MICE | IMEX America | John Woolcock

Exclusive interview with John Woolcock, Manager (Groups & Conventions) at Jamaica Tourist Board, at IMEX America 2026. Key Highlights: 1. John Woolcock says buyer engagement from North American meeting planners at the show has been “amazing” and “fantastic,” with high interest in Jamaica. 2. Asked how Jamaica is doing after the hurricane, he says the destination is doing well, that resilience “really pays off,” and that it has bounced back nicely. 3. He says the hotels have pretty much reopened, with a few still doing more extensive refurbishing, the flights are back, the product is looking good, and Jamaica is getting group business. 4. He says everyone is feeling good about the future. 5. On supporting corporate groups, he says the Jamaica Tourist Board keeps up engagement with planners by always being on the road, attending major trade shows and staying in touch with partners. 6. He says the board keeps partners updated on where Jamaica stands, on recovery, new products opening, what it is doing in the market, and shows held in Jamaica to foster growth of the MICE market. 7. On MICE growth, he says the board is making sure it is very visible, including at shows like IMEX, which he says has a global footprint. 8. He says planners need accurate information so they know what their groups can expect, and that a destination marketing organisation (DMO) means a lot to a planner because it gives access to accurate information on the destination. 9. On 2027 infrastructure, he says to expect new products and new hotels, and ongoing efforts to increase airlift capacity. 10. He says conference facilities and convention centres are part of the plan, with many new hotels building conference centres on property. 11. He says Jamaica offers experiences and tells a story, and that groups want to know the story behind a destination and feel what it is all about, and, when the meeting or incentive work is done, to know what else is out there. 12. On converting connections into group business, he says the board listens to the planner, understands the programme and what the client is looking for, and helps them reach the right contacts and supplier partners to deliver a successful programme in Jamaica. 13. He says the board works closely with planners and with supplier partners in Jamaica, and does the heavy lifting so planners know what they want when they engage with Jamaica. About Travel And Tour World: Travel And Tour World is a global travel media platform covering travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, MICE, cruise, and luxury travel, with readership across 195 countries. [John Woolcock, John Woolcock Jamaica Tourist Board interview, Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica tourism, Jamaica travel, Jamaica travel update 2026, Jamaica tourism recovery after hurricane, is Jamaica open after the hurricane, Jamaica hotels reopened, Jamaica tourism resilience, Jamaica MICE, Jamaica MICE market growth, Jamaica groups and conventions, Jamaica group business, Jamaica incentive travel, plan a corporate event in Jamaica, meetings and incentives, group travel, meeting planners, how DMOs help meeting planners, destination marketing, new hotels in Jamaica 2027, Jamaica airlift 2027, Jamaica conference centres and convention centres, Caribbean tourism, IMEX America, IMEX America 2026, IMEX America 2026 interview, Travel And Tour World] #jamaica #visitjamaica #jamaicatourism #caribbeantravel #mice #imex #meetingplanners #incentivetravel #grouptravel #TravelAndTourWorld