Angella Bennett – With great pride, comes great responsibility!

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“I’m very conscious of the important contribution that the tourism industry makes to Jamaica’s economy and I feel great pride in the fact that I can make a meaningful contribution to that.” Angella Bennett (Regional Director of Tourism for Canada)

Despite the challenging years it has been for all industries across the globe the last few years, undeniably, travel and tourism has been hit very hard. Despite that, there is one island that has bounced back and recovered after this pandemic faster, and more effectively than any other island, and that island is Jamaica.

Jamaica was recognized with two 2022 WAVE (Western Advisors’ Vote of Excellence) Awards by TravelAge West. They were rewarded with the: Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Caribbean, and International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support. In the 17-year history of these awards, it is the 11^th time Jamaica has earned the international honour.

Adding to their recognition, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Ed Bartlett was honoured for his hard work in helping Jamaica’s tourism industry to rebound from COVID-19 with an induction into the prestigious Global Travel Hall of Fame. Minister Bartlett is the first Caribbean tourism leader to receive this honour, one that is only given out to leaders who have achieved phenomenal business success but have also inspired and shaped those around them. This statement is going to become very important in a few minutes when I introduce our vivacious Women Empowered Feature.

In 2021, Jamaica has once again received international recognition at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America program, winning five trophies at the ceremony held in Dubai. Jamaica was awarded first place in the following destination-specific categories:

• Caribbean’s Leading Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Nature Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board

Jamaica was one of the first islands to begin welcoming visitors during the pandemic, when they reopened their borders in June 2020. The island’s extensive health and safety protocols, developed in conjunction with authorities across health and tourism sectors, were among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels recognition.

To achieve these accolades takes the work of a strong, dedicated team, and I must commend Donovan White, for seeing something in our Woman Empowered; something that was undeniable, real, authentic, and proud.

As regional director for Canada, Angella Bennett decisively directs a team of exceptional professionals in the Canada offices with a single-minded purpose: promote travel to Jamaica by Canadians. A typical day for Angella may involve a team meeting at the office, a visit to a travel wholesale company, or meeting with an airline. Other days could involve meetings with advertising or public relations professionals to plan strategies, or interactions with consumers through various promotional activities, which are devised to target various market niches.

Angella Bennett was appointed to the position of Regional Director of Tourism for Canada at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in early 2019. Amongst the list of her many achievements, which I will proudly go into later, she holds an MSc. in hospitality and tourism management from Revans University, UK; a certification in marketing from the University of the West Indies and she is a confirmed Fellow with the International Management Centres Association (FIMCA).

I have always been a fan of Angella Bennett, and loved her spirit from the first time that I met her. Over the years, I have grown fond of her ability to share her passion for Jamaica to anyone she speaks with. That is why when a good friend of ours Chef Noel Cunningham reached out to me and suggested that now was a great time to honour her with a feature, I immediately agreed.

Naturally, when I reached out to Angella, she was more than happy to share with me her sensational story, one that is sure to inspire any young woman who reads this feature. When she came on the phone, she was already laughing light-heartedly at a joke that she was just told. Her mood was light (typical of Angella), and just like that, the interview was off to a fantastic start.

“I was born and raised in St James Montego Bay, to two great parents: Myrtle and Percival Gray,” Angella began. “My dad was very talented; my talents and creativity came from dad, and my resilience comes from my mom. She took care of us, and nurtured us. He kept the soul of the family happy with music. He was a provider, and I clearly remember that we didn’t want for anything. He made our clothing, and we were always dressed to the tee. We were always stylish, because any new fashions that came out, my dad could create for us. Regardless of what we had, we went through rite of passage in a humble way.”

FUN FACT

Angella’s career plan as a teenager was to become a veterinarian. She loved caring for animals, and she still does.

Angella’s first experience with the hospitality industry was at Half Moon Resort in Jamaica. She was only 19 years old at the time, but it was not the first time she had found herself at the hotel.

“My dad was a musician in the hospitality industry. He actually used to play at Half Moon Resort with his band Tornado. I applied for a receptionist position and that was my introduction. It is a renowned hospitality property that trains their staff very well. I was under the direct mentorship by Myrtle Dwyer, and she was a tough trainer. You had to perfect your skill. You had to learn how to speak, how to present yourself. My training was intense, but well worth it.

She saw my ability to engage with people, and my ability to bring out the best in people. They invested in a course for me to do internationally; you had to work and do the course, and if you failed, you had to pay the hotel back. That was how I achieved my first certification.”

Angella soon graduated to being the Director for Tour Operations at a destination management company Caribic Vacations. “I held that position for nine years. I like to invest in the companies that I work for.”

She then moved on to serve as Director of Sales at RIU Hotels & Resorts. There she was in charge of overseeing sales and revenue management activities for 2,500 rooms across five resorts. During her tenure, she successfully opened five of the six RIU Hotels in Jamaica. “This was where I grew the most professionally to a level beyond my expectations,” Angella shares. “I was one of the only Jamaican women to hold that position. The only other woman I knew was Myrtle Dwyer.”

What people don’t realize is that Angella has opened the door for other African-Caribbean women to excel in management positions.

She joined Melia Braco Village and was there for a year before coming to Canada.

“Coming from a large property to managing a small hotel, I thought it was going to be a walk in a park, but it was challenging. The passion for me was that I was working for my country. It was introducing this product under a new umbrella, new brand, and new concept. We were on the road a lot drumming up relationships, and I learned how to lean on relationships that I had made during my time. I will never forget the support that I received from sponsors like Sunwing, and Apple Vacations.

After establishing this hotel, I had to set up an end game; the one thing I was sure of was that I wanted to work for my country. I was ready to take on an international destination as it had always been a passion of mine. I was ready, the tourist board was ready, and Canada was ready for me.”

With the help of Angella’s strong leadership, Jamaica made it through a pandemic. She admits that at times it was very challenging.

“It has been a learning experience. We had to be resilient. We have an amazing team, and the industry has recognized them for this. We have raised the bar here in Canada letting people know what is going on in Jamaica. No two day is ever the same in the hospitality industry; I encourage our young people to invest in their talents, step out in faith, and bring passion to whatever you decide that you want to do.”