ROSE HALL, St James

BUOYED by a 31 per cent increase in revenue during the fiscal year 2014/2015 over the previous year, general manager at the Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC) Dittie Guise, says a number of strategies are soon to be implemented to further improve revenue inflows at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)-run facility.

“One of the initiatives that we are going to do at the centre is to look at some of the low months and start to create our own events, to bring people into the centre to generate more revenue,” Guise told the Jamaica Observer West.

“It could be an expo, looking for other partnerships… but it will have to be a win-win situation for all. It can’t be that someone comes in as a partner and we don’t get anything in return,” added Guise, pointing out that the month of August is typically bad for convention business.

She said already discussions are at an advanced stage with overseas-based individuals, as well as locals, to stage an international expo at the centre next August.

“We are working on an expo now which will be an open-to-the-public event, where we will be bringing in international and local exhibitors, as well as international and local speakers,” said Guise.

“We have done our research and we know that this is the time of the year when the kids and a lot of people are on vacation, so this is going to be something that they are going to want to come to. In addition to that, it is something that the working people here would want to come to and see the exhibits which can help them to boost their own businesses.”

It is hoped that the two-day expo, which will include an entertainment package, will be held annually.

Over the years, the centre — opened in 2011 at Rose Hall, east of the scenic north coast resort city of Montego Bay under a US$51.7-loan agreement between the Government and the Export Import Bank of Chin — has not been able to make enough money to cover total operating expenses.

At the end of the last financial year revenue stood at a third of the MBCC’s total expenses, which hit $386.46 million, even with a 100 per cent increase in revenues.

Guise told the Observer West recently that among the other initiatives that are expected to boost revenue at the centre, which is managed by the Philadelphia – based SMG on behalf of the UDC, is a sponsorship programme, which will allow companies to advertise their goods and services at the facility.

“We are going to put up kiosks, so companies for example, can have videos or stills advertising their businesses, so that people who come into the facility will be able to see the advertisements,” Guise emphasised.

“We are also planning to have shuttles from the convention centre during major events to the nearby Shoppes of Rose Hall so people can go shopping. And we also plan to have companies’ logos on our website, so anyone going on our website could click on then and go directly to our sponsors’ website.”

Similar initiatives, she noted, have been successfully implemented by SMG at other convention facilities in the United States that are managed by the group.

The state-of-the -art MBCC, constructed on 35 acres of land close to the famous Rose Hall Great House, boasts roughly 142,000 square feet of event space that can accommodate up to more than 6,000 people.

It offers fully integrated audio/video control system; global broadcast and teleconferencing capabilities from all of its nine meeting rooms; wireless capability throughout the complex; secure Internet service; VOIP and wireless VOIP telephone systems; a state-of-the-art kitchen; divisible ballroom; business centre; and 500 parking spaces, among other amenities.

Guise pointed out that apart from the strategies that are soon to be implemented in an effort to boost revenue, SMG has been steadily attracting additional business and has strenuously held expenses down by conserving on the use of utilities and moving its landscaping and catering in-house.

Just over a year ago, SMG hired Sandra Daley-Francois, as its director of global sales. Daley is spearheading the marketing thrust at the facility.

Guise, who is predicting that the centre will see a roughly 20 per cent increase in revenue during the 2015/2016 period over the previous year, noted that the facility, during its four years of existence, has hosted a number of local and international events, including the Caribbean Association of Banks, International Women’s Corner Stone Conference, Biennial Diaspora Conference, Climate Investment Funds Forum, International Taekwondo Federation, PetroCaribe Summit, JAPEX, Jamaica Investment Forum, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Expo, Jamaica Employers’ Federation Convention, Taste of Jamaica, funerals, beauty pageants, bridal shows, and Come Celebrate Jesus gospel concert.

To date, the centre has hosted more than 420 events and has created employment for hundreds of people across the western region.