HOSPITALITY guru Myrtle Dwyer, after giving more than 36 years of high touch service to Half Moon Resort, has stepped out into a new role — director of sales and marketing at her family-owned and operated Glamour Destination Management Company.

Immediately she has hit the ground running as she gears up to bring her hallmark of excellence to the new marketing programme the company intends to roll out for 2011/2012.

“I am stepping out (expanding) again when people say Glamour production should not be stepping out locally,” Dwyer said, as she addressed a special luncheon held at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston last week.

Glamour Destination Management, she said, is hoping to acquire a big slice of Corporate Jamaica’s events planning as part of its expansion.

“We try to tailor services to deal with large companies as well as for two people,” Dwyer explained.

Glamour Destination Management, located in Montego Bay’s Ironshore industrial estate, prides itself on offering to its clients, tailor-made activities that suit the needs of each group.

Glamour’s experienced staff guides individuals through site inspections/selections, entertainment choices, ground transportation, suggestions for exciting tours and attractions, destination weddings and just about anything that may be required.

With more than 20 years as a destination management company, Glamour has a cadre of meeting and event planning specialists to make team-building events, product launches, corporate retreats, beach fun days, among other activities a seamless experience.

Founded as Glamour Tours in 1987 by Roy Anderson and Dwyer, the company transitioned into Glamour Destination Management Company in 2008, and the gradual expansion was followed by the appointment of their daughter Rachel Anderson as director with responsibility for business expansion and development.

Glamour, Dwyer said, has carved a reputation for itself as Jamaica’s leading destination management company.

“We are working steadfastly on earning that reputation across the region and in the international markets we serve,” she said.

A part of that expansion involves a partnership with the company Linstead Market which packages a wide range of authentic Jamaican products, mainly for the export market.

Dwyer’s ability to turn everything into ‘gold’ is already evident in this new partnership as chairman of the Linstead Market, Norman McDonald said he is now rejuvenated to do new things with the 25-year-old business.

“After meeting her, I feel pumped up to do great things with Linstead Market. I am like a new man these days all because I have been introduced to Myrtle,” he said.

The company exports 97 per cent of its products but has turned its focus on the Jamaican market in the last three years.

An upbeat Dwyer, who said: Always enjoys a challenge, said destination professionals cannot be fearful and is daring to step out to sell a product which would normally be sold in the international market.

“Linstead market complements what we do…we will be able to present a lovely gift basket of these products to a visitor who comes or it can either go to a room drop or a Corporate function,” she said.

Dwyer later told the Observer that one has to know the Jamaican product to be able to put them in sync with the people.

As a member of the World of Destination Management Company, Dwyer said Glamour has partners in Europe, North America and Canada.

Meanwhile, Anderson in her address to the gathering, said the company intends to roll out a slew of new products as it approaches 25 years, among them the corporate outing and events programme.

“Whether it is deciding on a venue, menu, decor, food and beverage or any other concern that a group might have with their function, we fully understand the depth and detail involved in event planning,” Anderson said.

She explained also that Glamour Destination will be rolling out a new charter service for ground transportation with varying capacity.

Fluent in English, German and Spanish, Dwyer serves as the Honorary Consul for Spain in Montego Bay and was conferred with the Commander of Order of Civil Merit Award by the King of Spain Juan Carlos. She is also a Justice of the Peace, Lay Magistrate of the Parish of St James, a deaconess and lay preacher at the Calvary Baptist Church and chairman of the board of her alma mater Montego Bay High School.