Entrepreneurial couple Tamara Gibson and Kevear Clunie are making it easier for individuals who are planning events to find the right location with their new event planner and locator app, Jamaica Venues (JV).

Known as the airbnb of venue apps, the platform promotes large and small, traditional and non-traditional venues throughout the 14 parishes of Jamaica.

Jamaica Venues allows people to build and minitor their events online and receive an instant quote from the venue of their choice.

According to Gibson, “The idea was born out of the need for a comprehensive list of venues. We had the experience as we were always the go-to persons for recommendations for event venues.”

That has now been turned into a business which provides digital marketing services for venue operators, creating greater exposure and generating increased revenue.

The timing was perfect as the Jamaican entertainment and events sector is rebounding after almost three years of lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

With an increase in the number of events being staged, organisers are scrambling to find suitable venues. The couple have combined their talents to make it easier for event planners to succeed in the post-pandemic world.

Tamara Gibson is both a certified event planner and certified digital marketer, while Kevear Clunie is a certified information technology (IT) professional and certified business consultant specialising in bars and restaurants.

Gibson has responsibility for marketing and general administration, while Clunie undertakes IT responsibilities of the business. They believe that JV is poised to be the next big thing in event planning — an app designed as a one-stop platform to handle venue bookings for planners of small and large events.

JV’s platform allows venue owners to register their properties and event planners to build their event online, receiving an instant quote from the selected venue.

Gibson said, “Whether it’s a wedding, conference, birthday celebration, retirement function, corporate event, or cocktail party, the app supports will help to make the event a success.”

JV is a digital marketing organisation that was established in 2018 to provide customers with all their event planning needs. Be it a wedding, conference, birthday celebration, corporate event, or cocktail party, the app supports them all.

The website is newly revamped and, as such, the team is conducting a drive to attract venue owners and homeowners with yard spaces they are willing to rent to sign up.

JV earns from venues that are listed online as they pay a monthly subscription. JV, meanwhile, receives promotion through Jamaica Venues’ social media channels on a weekly basis.

Given the resurgence in entertainment events, does JV also promote events?

Gibson answered, “We do not promote events at this time. We do, however, host events under our brand. We have done the following to date: Vision Board Party, Singles Mingle, Paint & Sip. We are planning to host more events in the coming months.”

Clunie says the public’s reaction to the platform has been positive thus far. He notes, “We have recently revamped our website with the app functionality and we are currently in pre-launch mode as well as repopulating the site with venues. And so we invite all venue operators nationwide to jump on board with us.”

The app can be accessed at https://www.jamaicavenues.com/.

In 2022, the couple hopes to expand their business and create brand awareness in the Caribbean by showcasing venues in neighbouring islands.

Eventually, they said, they “intend to gain worldwide brand recognition and become a household name as it relates to all things venues”.