Hurricane-hit western Jamaica shines - Tensing Pen tops nation in prestigious Travel + Leisure awards

WESTERN BUREAU:
Just months after Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica’s tourism heartland, international travellers have delivered a powerful vote of confidence in the island.
More than 661,000 readers of Travel + Leisure have named Negril, Westmoreland’s intimate cliffside retreat, Tensing Pen, Jamaica’s top hotel and the Caribbean’s second-best resort in the magazine’s prestigious World’s Best Awards.
The recognition, based on votes cast by more than 661,000 readers in the magazine’s 31st annual survey, comes as an especially significant endorsement for Jamaica after one of the most challenging periods in the tourism industry’s history. Of the 25 Caribbean resorts honoured this year, six are in Jamaica, with five situated in western Jamaica – the region hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa.
Tensing Pen, a 24-room boutique resort perched dramatically along Negril’s rugged West End cliffs, climbed from sixth place in the Caribbean last year to second this year, while retaining its position as Jamaica’s highest-ranked resort. The property was also ranked 47th among the world’s finest hotels, placing it in rarefied international company.
Joining Tensing Pen on the Caribbean list were Jamaica Inn at #8, Rockhouse Hotel at #12, Round Hill Hotel and Villas at #15, Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach at #18, and Skylark Negril Beach Resort at #20.
For Jamaica’s tourism sector, the results represent far more than a collection of accolades. They signal the resilience of a destination that continued to deliver world-class hospitality despite widespread storm damage, months of recovery, and extraordinary challenges faced by hotel workers and communities across the west.
“This recognition demonstrates the strength of Brand Jamaica,” said Evelyn Smith, former president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and co-manager of Tensing Pen.
“Jamaica has diversity. It has reach. These resorts are all known for their sense of community and authenticity of experience.”
Reflecting on this year’s achievement, Smith’s husband, Joseph, credited the hotel’s loyal guests, dedicated staff and owners, the Petros family, for the consecutive international accolades.
Back-to-back awards
They noted that the back-to-back awards coincided with two successive hurricane seasons that tested both the property and the surrounding community.
“Though our houses and communities were damaged, our staff came to work and served far beyond the call of duty,” they said.
“We must especially thank the Petros family for the extraordinary assistance they gave the staff and the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Their love and care for Jamaica knows no bounds.”
That spirit of resilience has long defined Tensing Pen, one of Jamaica’s most celebrated boutique hotels. With just 24 handcrafted cottages and suites nestled among tropical gardens overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the property has built an international reputation for offering an authentic Jamaican experience that blends understated luxury with nature, wellness and personalised service.
The latest rankings also reinforce the growing influence of Jamaica’s boutique hotel sector. While the island is internationally known for its large all-inclusive resorts, this year’s awards were dominated by smaller, independently operated properties, most with fewer than 50 rooms, highlighting increasing demand among discerning travellers for intimate, personalised experiences rooted in local culture.
For western Jamaica in particular, the honours carry added significance.
From Negril to Hanover, Montego Bay in St James and Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, communities that spent months rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa are once again attracting some of the world’s most discerning travellers, proving that exceptional hospitality can flourish even in the face of adversity.
For Tensing Pen, the recognition is another milestone in a journey built not on size, but on authenticity, heartfelt service and an enduring connection to Jamaica’s natural beauty.
For Jamaica, perhaps the greatest achievement lies in the message sent by hundreds of thousands of travellers around the world, that, despite the storms, the island remains one of the Caribbean’s most cherished destinations.
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com