The new OTA will allow Jamaican companies including hotels, villas, car rental agencies and attractions to reach a wide audience of potential visitors who in turn, may book everything they need for their visit to Jamaica.

Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, John Lynch, has called the initiative “a significant achievement with enormous benefits for Jamaica’s tourism industry.” He congratulated Myrtle Dwyer, Glamour DMC’s director of sales, marketing and customer relationship management, on the new partnership and pledged the Jamaica Tourist Board’s “full support.”

Evelyn Smith, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) was also very upbeat about the launch of BookJamaicaNow.com which she said, “represents a significant marketing boost for JHTA members.”

Pointing to Regatta’s successes in other parts of the Caribbean, Dwyer said that the project is “ideally suited to Jamaica”. She noted that traditional OTAs typically demand a 25-30% commission from industry partners, while Regatta offers free registration to Jamaican companies and a much lower commission.

Ashwin Kamlani, president of Regatta Travel Solutions, a division of Hotel Internet Help, said that all suppliers in Jamaica will benefit from Regatta OTA Software.

“We are proud to bring Regatta to Jamaica; the country has so much to offer but so many suppliers in the destination have yet to find their full potential via the internet. Traditional OTAs and tour operators have dominated many destinations in the Caribbean for years and for the first time, Regatta provides these destinations with a voice of their own,” Kamlani said.