Government of Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 27, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett today revealed that noted global tourism expert, Dan Durazo, the Director of Communications at Allianz Global Assistance, will be the keynote speaker at the highly anticipated awards ceremony for the 2016 Tourism Service Excellence Programme (TSEP).
The 2016 Tourism Service Excellence Awards for overall champions in both the ‘individual’ and ‘organization’ categories will be presented on March 4, 2017, during a grand ceremony at the Hyatt Ziva Resort and Spa, Rose Hall, Montego Bay. Six resort area champions will also be named in both categories.
Durazo is a well-known industry professional who has previously managed public relations operations at independent marketing and advertising agencies. Some of his clients in the past include Fortune 500 companies such as: Coca-Cola USA, Target Stores, Honda Motor Co., and Merrill Lynch, as well as government agencies such as the U.S. Treasury Department, and non-profits such as the National Wildlife Federation.
In his presentation at the awards ceremony, Mr. Durazo will highlight how important the customer’s experience is to customer service overall. He will also share how his company, Allianz Global Assistance, gives its clients world class service while providing travel insurance and assistance to millions of customers every year, through thousands of travel agents.
Minister Bartlett said, “the Ministry of Tourism is thrilled that Dan Durazo has agreed to be our guest speaker at this year’s TSEP awards. I trust that his expertise in providing excellent customer service to so many of our industry’s leading travel professionals will resonate with our semi-finalists who exemplify what Jamaica’s tourism product is all about.”
The TSEP awards are the country’s highest national accolade to be given to persons and organizations in the tourism sector in recognition of service excellence. The initiative is funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Tourism announced the semi-finalists vying for the awards, which included nine of the island’s top tourism workers and 10 leading organizations. They were selected from some 150 nominees, for their demonstration of excellent customer service as well as their contribution to a positive visitor experience.
Nominations for the awards were accepted from the accommodation sub-sector, attractions, places of interest and ground transportation as well as tour operators, craft markets, customs officers, immigration officers, red cap porters and airport staff, to name a few.
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For more information, contact:
Alyssa Taffe
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Tourism
64 Knutsford Boulevard
Kingston 5
Tel: (876) 920-4926-30
Mobile: (876) 441-5055
Fax: (876) 906 1729