Barrington Flemming
Staff Reporter
One of the luminaries in Jamaica’s Tourism industry, Dittie Guise, General Manager of the Montego Bay Convention Centre, is dead.
Miss Guise, who was also first vice President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, died early Tuesday morning at Hospiten, Montego Bay.
Miss Guise, who was ailing with cancer, returned to the island last week after receiving chemotherapy treatment overseas. She is said to have fallen and hit her head whilst in her hotel room in the United States, and had been complaining of headaches since.
She was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association’s Marketing Committee last week, but complained of severe headaches and had to abort her plans to attend. She was taken instead to Hospiten, Montego Bay, where she was admitted.
Miss Guise has been instrumental in the start-up and growth of the Montego Bay Convention Centre since assuming the role of General Manager in April 2011.
She has held various senior roles within the hospitality industry. She was the Chief Operating Officer at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre Authority, General Manager at SMG-Greater Columbus Convention Centre and President/General Manager at Homkar Inc-Kansas City Market Centre. Educated in London, England, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Fashion Merchandising.
Meanwhile, tributes are pouring in with the management and staff of the Montego Bay Convention Centre, expressing sadness at the passing of their pioneering and visionary leader. During her tenure, the Montego Bay Convention Centre has enjoyed significant success, receiving several awards; chief among those are seven consecutive wins at the World Travel Awards for the Caribbean’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre.
The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while expressing deep sorrow at her passing, hailed Miss Guise for having served the city of Montego Bay and the Chamber with distinction, purpose and conviction.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, in his tribute said: “The tourism family today mourns the loss of a really outstanding public servant, conference organiser and indeed one of the finest convention centre administrators in these parts.”
He also lauded Guise’s contribution to the success of the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, which was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre last November.