NEGRIL, Westmoreland – Negril’s Merrils Beach Resorts has been named winner of the prestigious Thomas Cook Tour Operator Primo Award of Excellence for 2003.

Thomas Cook/AG Neckermann is among Europe’s leading tour operators.

Marianne Kopanski – Thomas Cook AG/Neckermann’s regional director who handed over the trophy to Merrils’ managing director, Michael Grandison – commended the resorts on their “professional management style, amiable staff, friendliness and efficiency”. According to her, the resorts’ “elegant vacation allure and charm” was among the best of the over 100 resort properties worldwide whose business had been handled by the company.

The island’s director of tourism, Paul Pennicook, also congratulated Merrils on their accomplishment, saying that the award had underscored the standards achieved and maintained by the resort over the years. He added that the property was an outstanding example of the vacation experience provided at Jamaica’s small hotels and lauded its operators for their ability to maintain a strong support base from the European market and from Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Italy in particular.

“This award offers encouragement and inspiration to all of us within the industry as we pool our energies to ensure that Jamaica remains the premier Caribbean brand in the marketplace,” the tourism director said.

The Merrils Beach Resorts group consists of three properties located on Negril’s famed seven-mile beach strip and offers water sports facilities, islandwide tours and international cuisine.