KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says that with the addition of more hotel rooms in the country’s capital, Kingston is positioning itself as a centre for city tourism.

“City tourism is a very exciting area of development; that’s what makes New York what it is, London what it is and Paris what it is, and Kingston is now poised.”

“When we get the other 300 rooms that Wyndham is completing there… Kingston will become a centre where we have more than 1,000 good rooms and when you have more than 1,000 good rooms in a small city such as this, you are beginning to take the steps to be recognised as a centre for city tourism,” he said.

Bartlett was addressing a cocktail reception to celebrate Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel’s Four Diamond Award from the AAA, at the hotel’s Waterloo Road premises in St Andrew on Tuesday.

He said the additional room capacity, coupled with the Devon House gastronomy experience and other features, will heighten visitor experience in the city.

The Devon House experience will include a ‘Rum Prototype’ in collaboration with J Wray and Nephew.

“We are going to be putting together rums from all over the world, not just rums that are made in Jamaica so that we bring the world to appreciate the gastronomy of Jamaica,” Bartlett added.

The minister congratulated the Terra Nova Hotel on the award from AAA, noting that the recognition will help boost Jamaica’s prospects for increasing repeat visitors.

“This prestigious designation is very well deserved. As one of Kingston’s oldest and most popular hotels, Terra Nova holds a special place in Jamaica’s tourism history. That you have been serving business travellers and others for over 55 years is testament to your ability to provide exceptional service,” he noted.

Bartlett also lauded staff members, who were honoured by the hotel during the function, for their outstanding service.

Director, Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, Christelle Harris, said that the AAA Diamond rating for hotels represents a combination of overall quality, range of facilities and level of service offered by the property.

The hotel was the only one in Kingston to receive this honour, which is given to properties that are “refined, stylish, with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail”.

Just 6.1 per cent of the more-than-27,000 AAA-inspected and approved hotels make the Four Diamond list.

Terra Nova also received the award in 2015.