TOURISM Minister Edmund Bartlett yesterday announced senior appointment to the board of directors of the Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC).

The tourism ministry said the appointment of new members to the board followed recent Cabinet approval for the ownership of the MBCC to be transferred from the Urban Development Centre (UDC) to the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Finance and Public Service.

Tourism stalwart and current chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board John Lynch has been appointed chairman of the MBCC. Other members of the board include: executive director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Dr Andrew Spencer; banker Andrea Lyle; restaurateur Robert Russell; and dhairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Godfrey Dyer.

A major part of this arrangement is for the Ministry of Tourism to handle the daily management, operation and marketing of the facility.

The ministry’s proposed plans for the centre include the possible development of the facility to house a hotel on property, creation of retail shops and housing the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation — which just completed its pilot phase with over 150 graduates.

Minister Bartlett also noted that the Montego Bay Convention Centre will continue to play a pivotal role in leveraging Jamaica as the preferred Caribbean destination for the ‘Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Events’ market.

The ministry said other senior appointments to the MBCC, such as the executive director, will be announced at a later date.

The MBCC was first opened in 2011 and has a combined total of 139, 302 square feet of meeting, exhibition and ballroom spaces. It is also a five-time recipient of the World Travel Award for being the Caribbean’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre.