KINGSTON, Jamaica — Four Urban Development Corporation (UDC)-managed attractions have been awarded certificates of excellence from the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor, for excellence in hospitality and for continuously meeting the needs of their customers.

TripAdvisor, which boasts the world’s largest travel community with some 390 million visitors monthly and 96 million members to its 49 sites in 28 languages, in September announced that the UDC’s Ocho Rios Bay Beach; Dunn’s River Falls and Park; Green Grotto Caves; and Reach Falls attractions had each been recognised with 2017 Certificates of Excellence based on the consistently great reviews earned on TripAdvisor.

According to the UDC, the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls and Park in St Ann is receiving the award for the third consecutive year while Reach Falls is being recognised for the second time.

The corporation in acknowledging the awards said the testament by its customers was a clear indication that its contribution to the island’s tourism product ranked among the best.

It noted further that the four attractions being highlighted in the same period for the first time was without question a vote of confidence in the UDC’s work and a source of great pride for all Jamaicans.

In selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses analytical software to determine the honourees, and takes into account the quality, quantity and timeliness of reviews and opinions submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period as well as businesses’ tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site.

To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.