Montego Bay, March 12, 2010—With a new advertising campaign under way, new brochures and a new port scheduled to open this year, the launch of Cruise Jamaica’s new website reinforces The Port Authority of Jamaica’s commitment to a complete overhaul and re-imagined look for the future. The key component for the new website, http://www.cruisejamaica.com, is ease of accessibility. “It was essential that the web was a portal through which everyone could access all our information in an easy, convenient way,” says William Tatham, Vice President, Cruise Shipping and Marina Operations, The Port Authority of Jamaica. But, what really sets the website apart, is the innovative Port Planner, a cruise vessel booking system, designed and created by The Port Authority of Jamaica, making Jamaica the only destination that offers such technology. Derived from working with itinerary planners and noticing the inefficiencies connected to the booking of ships, Tatham and his team came up with the idea of a system that would enable a more effective planning process. “Decision-making in cruise shipping currently is done by a variety of departments and people. Once a potential itinerary has been decided on it goes through another chain of departments and/or persons to determine if the berths are even available at the various ports,” Tatham says. Four years later, the Jamaica Port Planner was born. “This new system will allow for quick decision-making, and capitalize on our ability to capture increased potential business. “In essence, the system allows, through password-protected access, planners to directly view accessibility of the berths, and book them up years in advance,” explains Christopher Colyard, systems analyst and programmer at The Port Authority, who wrote the code for the new system. Planners using this live system, will be able to log in, book ships cancel ships, maintain their bookings, and the system will also keep them abreast of any changes, even notifying them if a previously unavailable berth/date becomes available. “This is the only system of its kind,” Tatham says, “and we are excited to be making such a significant contribution to the industry.” The Port Planner accompanies an entirely revamped website. Organized in a similar way to the previous site, there will still be four main areas that go directly to information of each of the ports, including the newest destination: Falmouth. The new-look brochure will also be available for download on the site. Tatham explains that while he understands many people are moving away from brochures—for convenience, as well as for environmental reasons—collateral is still an essential part of the marketing campaign. “We bring printed material to the tradeshows,” Tatham says, “but we recognize that they don’t want to lug 50 of them back in their suitcase. Many just want to be able to access the information in the shortest possible time, and the website allows for that.”