In a glowing endorsement of the vital role played by Latin American travel advisors, Gary Sadler, Executive Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations at Unique Vacations, lauded their unwavering efforts in driving tourism to Jamaica and other Caribbean destinations, particularly where Sandals Resorts are located.

Sadler expressed his heartfelt appreciation for their continued dedication to promoting the Sandals brand and the broader Caribbean region, as he acknowledged the crucial role they play in not only attracting visitors but also in strengthening the tourism sectors of the countries they serve, with a special emphasis on Jamaica, the home of Sandals Resorts.

“Jamaica and Sandals continue to be a very strong product for Latin America. You have seen just a part of Jamaica, the Ocho Rios region, but as we continue to invest in Latin America, you'll find that the Caribbean, such as Barbados, with flights four times a week from Panama with Copa Airlines, and Bahamas Nassau, again with Copa Airlines flying from Panama, will continue to grow. We are throughout the Caribbean, hence the reason that we can provide the diversity that you need,” Sadler said after another successful staging of the Sandals Latin America Travel Advisors Golf Tournament on Monday.

“Your commitment to showcasing the beauty, culture, and luxury that Jamaica and the Caribbean have to offer is nothing short of extraordinary. Each year, your efforts bring more and more visitors to our shores, allowing them to experience the unparalleled service and hospitality that Sandals is known for,” he added.

Gary Sadler shares a light moment with Arlenes Garcia.

The 10th edition of the Sandals Latin America Travel Advisors tournament brought together travel advisors from 11 Latin American countries—Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico—for a few days of networking, education, and friendly competition at Sandals Golf and Country Club in Upton Estate.

Two teams from Argentina were crowned joint champions, as both teams finished tied on 68 after the two days.

One team, comprising Gabriel Miguens, Pablo Moioni, Gaston Serra, and Ulises Chiappe scored 34 across both days, while the other team of Maria Luisa Rodriquez, Fernando Rafael Quintes, Pablo Wolinsky, and Cesar Suarez scored 36 on day one and 32 on day two.

Peru’s team of Cesar Ruiz, Denitza Almeyda, Diego Sorni, and Micaela Oslcese, was third with 72, following scores of 39 and 33 across both days.

Beyond the competition, the advisors, many of whom were visiting the island for the very first time, were given a firsthand experience of the luxurious accommodations, world-class amenities, and vibrant culture that they market to their clients.

The tournament not only served as a platform for professional development but also as a testament to the strong partnerships that Sandals has built with the Latin American travel industry over the years.

Gaston Serra, a member of the winning Argentina team, makes a put.

Sadler highlighted the importance of these partnerships, noting that the continued success of Sandals Resorts in Latin America is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the travel advisors.

He also encouraged the advisors to keep pushing for sales in their regions, emphasizing that their efforts have a direct impact on the growth of tourism in the Caribbean.

“What that means is that you have the ability to sell the Caribbean, especially the English-speaking Caribbean. Every time a visitor from Latin America visits the Turks and Caicos Islands, it's the quality vacation that you sell that makes a huge difference. My own experience visiting Brazil for carnival, visiting Christ the Redeemer in Rio, tells me that everyone must travel to experience the world,” Sadler declared.

"Your influence in the Latin American market is undeniable, and so I urge you to continue your relentless pursuit of excellence. Together, we can further strengthen the Sandals brand and ensure that Jamaica and the Caribbean remain top-of-mind destinations for travelers from Latin America,” he stated.

“We're grateful that you can make it Sandals and you can make it Jamaica, and I sincerely hope that everyone had a wonderful, wonderful experience. Thank you for your commitment to Jamaica, and thank you for your commitment to Sandals,” he ended.

If ever Jamaicans needed a nudge to embrace the beauty of the island on which they reside, then Arlenes Garcia’s message—keep selling Jamaica as a brand—would hit home.

Garcia, the dynamic Director of Sales and Marketing for Latin America at Unique Vacations, who is currently in Jamaica along with travel advisors from 11 Latin American countries, is passionate about promoting Jamaica as a premier destination for tourists.

Her visit is part of the 10th staging of the Sandals Latin America Travel Advisors Golf Tournament, an event designed to immerse these individuals in the rich experiences that Sandals Resorts and Jamaica as a whole have to offer.

With the tournament as a backdrop, Garcia spoke enthusiastically about the importance of showcasing Jamaica's unique blend of natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and world-class hospitality.

“Jamaica is so beautiful. There are so many things that the tourists can experience when they come to Jamaica. It's safe to travel to Jamaica, and we have to speak about all this. Jamaica is more than just a destination; it’s a brand that resonates globally, so when we promote Jamaica as a country, as the Caribbean, we have to promote the beauty of the country,” Garcia said.

“From the stunning beaches and lush landscapes to the warm and welcoming people, Jamaica offers an experience that is unmatched. We have to speak about the experience that tourists in Jamaica could have. I mean, there is so much to speak about when we think about it—Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, and the golf course—there are so many beautiful places that you could find in Jamaica. So I would suggest that we continue promoting Jamaica,” she added.

Latin American Travel Advisors share a photo opportunity with caddies.

Garcia revealed that there are times when some Latin American travel advisors overlook Jamaica as a destination to experience and vacation, until they are told about the warmth and vibrancy of the island.

As such, she pointed out that it is essential that those who have experienced the beauty of the island  serve as ambassadors and continue to highlight these aspects to the world.

“Tourism is important for Jamaica and for us to be able to strengthen our relationship with our partners is also important. Jamaica is more than just a destination; it’s a brand that resonates globally, so as soon as those reluctant parties change their minds and decide to come here, they want to come back every year," she shared.

That said, Garcia explained that the tournament is more than just a sporting event but more of a strategic initiative aimed at deepening the understanding of what Jamaica offers as a tourism destination.

By bringing travel advisors directly to the island, Sandals Resorts ensures that these key influencers experience firsthand the quality and variety of amenities available.

This, in turn, allows them to better sell Jamaica to their clients across Latin America, as countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico are represented at the tournament. 

Members of Mexico's team in action.

With that in mind, Garcia emphasized the significance of golf as an integral part of Jamaica’s sports tourism industry. 

"Golf tourism is growing rapidly, and Jamaica is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. The beautiful golf course here at Sandals Golf and Country Club, set against breathtaking backdrops, adds an extra dimension to the traditional sun-and-sand holiday. It’s these unique offerings that make Jamaica stand out, and it’s our job to ensure that the world knows about them," Garcia reasoned.

"For travel advisors, the ideal thing is to actually see the product, enjoy and live the experience, because this is exactly what they will be selling when they go back home. So if they see the product and they enjoy it, then they can sell and the golf tournament is ideal for those travel advisors who specialize in golf. They have these clients that actually are looking for a vacation where they can incorporate their sport," she noted.

During their time in Jamaica, the travel advisors have been treated to a showcase of the island’s best. From luxurious stays at Sandals Dunn’s River  to exploring the island’s attractions and, of course, enjoying rounds of golf on at the scenic Sandals Golf and Country Club at Upton, an experience carefully curated to highlight Jamaica’s strengths.

But the travel advisors also do a bit of giving back themselves, as Garcia also encourages a 'pack for a purpose' initiative that involves giving back to Jamaican communities through the Sandals Foundation.

"We encourage the agents to actually park for a purpose. They bring articles that they can share with the community. As you know, we support the education, the environment and the communities with the Sandals Foundation, so to be able to bring school items, books, and other articles that will support the communities and the schools here in Jamaica is part of the program that we have prepared for the travel advisors. We also have island roots as part of the sponsorship and they will actually support us by incorporating an activity where the agents will be able to experience Jamaica," Garcia ended.

As the Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Uruguay, Jorge Andres Elissalde felt it only fitting that he made the trip down to the Caribbean Island to not only enjoy the sun, fun and excitement, but also to play his part in assisting Sandals Foundation to give back to its community.

Elissalde was among the over 70 individuals that made the trek from various countries to strut their stuff in the Sandals Latin American Travel Agents Golf Tournament, which is used a driver for participants to experience and, later sell Jamaica as the destination of choice for sports and tourism.

As fate would have it, Elissalde's team which included Jorge Barbut, Jose Cabrera and Leonardo Curutchague, finished tops at the four-man scramble format, two-day event with a final score of 60 over nine holes. They scored 33 on the first and 27 on the final day of the competition.

They won ahead of the Brazilian team of Breno Luz, Ricardo Dantas, Denilson Milan, and Raphael Abreu, which scored 28 on the first day and 37 on the final day to finish five-strokes behind on 65 at the Sandals Golf and Country Club.

"I am very proud to be the Honorary Consul of Jamaica and I am happy that we had the chance to come here and not only participate in the Sandals tournament, but also to see what the foundation is doing because we know they do a lot of good for the people here, especially in the Ocho Rios region. So, it's always a pleasure to play our part and we also won which is double the excitement," Elissalde told SportsMax.tv. 

Besides the friendly competition between others from Mexico, Panama, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, among others, Elissalde reiterated the serious side of the golf tournament, as the side shows raised US $316 for the Sandals Foundation which might seem a small figure but will go a far way in helping those in need.

Mauricio Fuerte (Closet to the Pin Men), Antonio Perez Verdia Rubio (Longest Drive Men), and Taryn Stanton (Longest Drive Women), won those side events.

Beyond that, the travel agents also brought with them books and other school supplies to be distributed in the community.

"Jamaica is a destination that not many Uruguayans know, it is a beautiful country with beautiful people and so doing this (tournament) is one way of basically opening the doors so those Uruguayans can experience Jamaica through us and then they will be more eager to come and visit," Elissalde reasoned.

"So what Sandals is doing is very good, it's a mix of sports and tourism and, more importantly, the fact that they use these golf tournaments to raise funds for the foundation is incredible and giving back is always something that many people gravitate towards. So again, we are very happy to play our part," he added.

During his visit, Elissalde also paid a courtesy call on Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Jake Coldiron, national manager of golf sales, expressed delight with the outcome of the tournament which is one of three travel-advisers’ event staged annually by the resort to promote the island as a golfing destination, while giving the resort chain’s sales reps personal experiences of its properties and Jamaica’s varied attractions.

The positive spinoff from the event has propelled Sandals to stage a World Travel Advisors Golf Tournament set for Emerald Bay, Bahamas, next year. Elissalde and his team are expected to be a part of that, along with those from the United States and Canada tournaments to come in September and October respectively. 

"My job is to help the travel advisors grow their business through golf and this year we actually had quite a few travel advisors that had never been to Jamaica, so the ultimate goal for them is to go back to their home country and sell Jamaica, sell Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and bring their clients down here," Coldiron said.

“The Sandals Foundation in general is also a very important part of Sandals Resorts and what is nice about it is that we as a company take it very seriously as far as ensuring that we give back not just in Jamaica but the entire Caribbean. We are a Caribbean-based company, and the ultimate goal is to take care of the Caribbean,” he noted.

By all indications, the Sandals Latin American Travel Agents Golf Tournament is not all about fun and games.

There is a serious side to the annual tournament.

Apart from serving as a common unifying force where Latin American-based travel agents meet to get their swing on and view close-up the exquisite Sandals Resorts International properties, the tournament also boasts a charitable side.

Financial proceeds raised, especially from a side-show putting contest, will go to the Sandals Foundation, which nourishes a robust junior golf programme that spawned the likes of Jamaican pro Wesley Brown.

Beyond that, Arlenes Garcia, director of sales and marketing for Latin America, pointed out that promoting the island as a major sports tourism attraction is of vital importance and the annual golf tournament presents the opportunity for travel agents to do so.

This year's ninth staging of the LatAm tournament attracted 98 agents from countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Mexico, who graced the Sandals Golf and Country Club in Upton, St Ann.

“The Caribbean and Jamaica is our home and so we are always pleased to be here spending time with our travel advisors and, more importantly, showing them the product. Being here is the opportunity to actually see the resorts and experience the Sandals product because seeing is believing,” Garcia said.

“So, when the travel advisors go back home, this is what they are going to talk about. Also, to be here playing golf on this fantastic golf course is the opportunity for them to actually grow that niche, as they make the most of the opportunities to bring tourism to this beautiful island,” she added.

While the putting contest – which sees the travel advisors contributing a small fee to participate –created some excitement of its own, there was also fireworks in the major four-member scramble tournament, as the two-day event picked up momentum on Saturday’s final day.

The team of Breno Luz, Ricardo Dantas, Denilson Milan, Raphael Abreu, were front runners from the start, while the trio of Artur Costa, Ricardo Silva, Marco Oliveira, and the quartet of Jorge Bardot, Jose Cabrera, Leonardo Curutchague and Andres Elissalde, also proved competitive.

Still, Garcia reiterated that camaraderie witnessed during golf, is just a small taste of how they work together to achieve a common goal.

“Year over year we see the increase of the tourism from the (Latin American) region into the Caribbean, especially Jamaica. We are one team promoting the life at Sandals beautiful resorts, this fantastic golf course and everything that we do day-by-day and so for me, Sandals has provided a career and the opportunity to grow,” she ended.