Scenic Negril will observe National Tourism Awareness Week 2007 this Friday as the ‘Spruce Up Jamaica’ campaign rolls into Jamaica’s ‘Capital of Casual’.

Friday’s happenings which will include the final in the joint government/private sector effort to beautify the island’s resort areas, literally kicks off with a bang at 8:30 am when three work crews – comprised of community members and hotel workers – will be escorted by a marching band from the Negril Marine Park to the Transportation Centre to begin clean-up activities, at the town’s primary ‘Spruce up’ project.

An Educational Expo is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am at the community centre adjacent to the Negril Marine Park. Geared mainly towards primary to tertiary level students in the Western region, but also open to the general public, the expo seeks to showcase the Negril tourism product with displays from a number of organisations including environment agencies, educational institutions and Negril tours and attractions. Afterwards students attending the expo will have the chance to benefit from interactive tours of various resorts.

The day culminates in a special after-work jam at Alfred’s on the Beach, where hotel workers will enter for a discounted cost.

Under the theme the ‘Many Moods of Destination Jamaica’, the goal of Tourism Awareness Week is to increase the nation’s level of awareness about the many components that make up the tourism industry – from the work that takes place in the public and private sector organisations to the activities and operations of the many and varied enterprises within our resort areas that interface with the final consumer and influence the experiences of both our local and overseas visitors.

Tasshoya Small’s Miss Sandals MoBay 2007

Nineteen-year-old Watersports Admin Assistant, Tasshoya Kemecia Small, walked away with the 2007 Miss Sandals Montego Bay Talent and Awareness title at the grand coronation which saw six contestants vying for the crown at the flagship resort recently. Small, who wore the sash ‘Miss Guardsman Group Limited’, also copped prizes for being the Most Aware and for having the Best Smile.

Small finished ahead of Butler Carla Wright who wore the sash ‘Miss Union Dental Centre’ and Wedding Consultant, Yaneake Sailsman who donned the ‘Miss Caribic Vacations’ sash.

The other sectional prizes were collected my ‘Miss Mackeson Tripple X Stout’, Tashaun Williams of the entertainment department who was voted most talented and ‘Miss Guardian Life’, Maria Wallen also of the Entertainment department who was adjudged most congenial.

During her reign, Miss Small plans to establish a mentorship programme at her alma mater, Muschette High School.

She says she will be drawing on the expertise of the female managers at Sandals Montego Bay in getting this programme up and running.