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June 16, 2009
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Helen Ames
1-877-JTB NEWS
jtbnews@ruderfinn.com
JAMAICA
TOURIST BOARD SPONSORS RACE TO THE TASTE TO KICK
OFF TASTE OF CHICAGO
Race
Winners Receive a Trip to Jamaica’s Sunset Beach Resort & Spa
KINGSTON,
JAMAICA –
June 16, 2009 – The
Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will sponsor the 17th annual
Race to the Taste event on Sunday, June 28 as part of the
Taste of Chicago. The 5K Run/2-Mile Walk will be taking
a new route this year through Chicago’s beautiful Grant
Park and lakefront and will allow for an easy transition
for participants to take part in the fun activities and
great food at the Taste of Chicago. Live reggae music by
local Chicago musician Kofi will greet the runners as they
cross the finish line.
The
Jamaica Tourist Board will host a booth to give out Jamaican-branded
goodies and to promote travel to Jamaica. Sunset Resorts,
Sunset Beach Resort & Spa will also be on-site and will
reward the female and male race winners with a trip to the
resort. The recently-renovated all-inclusive 430-room ocean-front
resort is family-friendly, playful and features the incredible
Pirate’s Paradise Water Park, new seaside entertainment center,
dining variety, great beaches and spa.
“We
are thrilled to support this event and promote to the residents
of the greater-Chicago area Jamaica’s offerings. Jamaica
is an easy destination to get to and boasts so many activities
perfect for singles, couples, and families,” states John
Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “In addition, with
our diverse range of hotels, improved airlift, plus improved
infrastructure, Jamaica is extremely accessible and well
positioned to provide value to our visitors.”
The
JTB sponsored band, Kofi, is a popular reggae band that is
known for classic covers of music by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh,
Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, and more. Supported by Jamaican
band members, Karl “Kofi” James currently resides in Chicago.
He has released upwards of 10 albums featuring reggae, soca
and zouk, and has toured the world extensively, performing
in the U.S., Canada, England, and the Caribbean. Kofi’s vintage
sound has received rave reviews and will be sure to get festival
attendees in the island mood.
In
2008, over 2,600 adults and 175 children participated in
the Race to the Taste event. The 5K run will begin promptly
at 8:30 am on the 28th, the 2-mile walk at 8:35 am, and Kids
Dash at 10:00 am, with top male and female finishers in each
age division receiving corresponding medals. The top finisher
in each gender category will also win a free trip to Jamaica!
The event is scheduled to conclude at 10:30 am.
About
Sunset Resorts
With
more than 1,200 guestrooms in three of Jamaica's leading
resort areas, Sunset Resorts offers a range of all-inclusive
vacation experiences for today's traveler. The company's
flagship property, the recently renovated, playful 430-room
Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, is located in Montego Bay
and offers the ideal escape with a host of activities for
singles, couples and families. (www.sunsetbeachresort.com).
Known for its wide range of “fun in the sun” activities,
the legendary 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa
in Ocho Rios offers a sensational range of amenities (www.sunsetjamaicagrande.com).
The 65-room Sunset at the Palms is located in Negril. This
chic and intimate hideaway is perfect for discerning guests
seeking the most blissful beach in Jamaica. Also rated one
of the top 10 most romantic resorts and top 10 best all-inclusive
resorts in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor.com. (www.sunsetatthepalms.com). For
more information, contact a preferred travel professional
or call 1-800-234-1707, or visit www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com.
Sunset Resorts - Always for everyone, Uniquely Jamaican.
About
the Taste of Chicago
The
29th annual Taste of Chicago is one of the top
tourist attractions in Illinois, drawing in more than 3.5
million people. It is the largest free admission food and
music festival in the entire country, featuring more than
200 menu items from over 50 local restaurants, showcasing
Chicago’s diverse ethnic cuisines. In addition, the festival
includes the delicious creations at the Cooking Corner featuring
famous chefs such as Emeril Lagasse, a BMX competition in
the Dew Tour, and musical performances on the Taste Stage
with past performances by Carlos Santana, Sheryl Crow and
LL Cool J. The Taste of Chicago will occur June 26 through
July 5 with the following hours: 11 am – 9 pm; Friday, July
3, 11 am – 9:30 pm; Sunday, July 5, 11 am – 6 pm.
About
the Jamaica Tourist Board
The
Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s
national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston.
The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist and
Convention Bureau by the World Travel Awards (WTA) from 2006
to 2008, while Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote as the World’s
Leading Cruise Destination, the Caribbean’s Leading Destination
and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination.
JTB
offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto
and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf,
Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
For
details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations
in Jamaica go to the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com,
or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422).
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