KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark win for Jamaica’s travel and hospitality sector, Club Kingston has secured the coveted title of “Lounge of the Year” for the Latin America and Caribbean region from Priority Pass, outperforming over 350 competing airport lounges across the area to claim the top honor.\n\nThis industry recognition lands at a pivotal juncture for Jamaica, which has been working steadily to rebuild and revitalize its tourism sector following the widespread disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. Beyond celebrating the high quality of Jamaica’s hospitality offerings, the award serves as a powerful vote of global confidence in the country as a travel destination, underscoring its ability to deliver world-class experiences to visitors from around the globe.\n\nAs the world’s preeminent airport lounge and curated travel experience program, Priority Pass boasts an extensive network that spans more than 1,800 lounges and unique experiences across 725 airports in over 145 nations. The program’s awards draw directly from feedback collected from its millions of global members, who submit more than 700,000 independent reviews and customer surveys each year. This data-driven, traveler-centered approach has made the Priority Pass awards one of the most respected and credible honors in the international travel industry.\n\nFor the 2024 cycle of awards, global travelers placed Club Kingston firmly at the head of the regional rankings, with consistent top ratings across all key service and experience metrics.\n\n“This recognition is incredibly meaningful because it does not come from an industry panel—it comes directly from the travelers we welcome and serve every single day,” explained Tanya Beckford, Chief Executive Officer of VIP Attractions Limited, which operates both Club Kingston and Jamaica’s popular Club Mobay lounge. “To be recognized by global passengers in this way is a tremendous honor, not just for our entire team, but for the whole of Jamaica. It reflects the warmth, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence that define our people and our national tourism product.”\n\nAt the official award ceremony held Tuesday in Kingston, Jeremy Dalkoff, Vice President of Partnerships at Priority Pass, echoed Beckford’s remarks and praised the lounge’s standout achievement. Dalkoff emphasized that the award reflects unfiltered, authentic sentiment from travelers across the world.\n\n“Club Kingston consistently delivers a standout, memorable experience for our Priority Pass members,” Dalkoff noted. “What makes this win especially significant is that it is 100% driven by direct, unedited feedback from the travelers who use the lounge. Earning the top spot across the entire Latin America and Caribbean region is a remarkable accomplishment, and it speaks volumes about the entire team’s relentless dedication to service excellence.”\n\nFor the Club Kingston staff and leadership, the award carries deeper meaning than just industry acclaim: it offers a ongoing platform to showcase the best of Jamaican hospitality and culture to international visitors before they even leave the country.\n\n“Every guest who walks through our doors gets an authentic taste of the legendary spirit of Jamaica long before they board their departing flight,” Beckford added. “This award proves that those small, personal moments of hospitality leave a lasting impact, and that matters more than anything.”\n\nThe honor comes as Jamaica ramps up national efforts to boost traveler confidence, expand international air connectivity, and upgrade the full end-to-end visitor experience for guests. This award will further solidify Jamaica’s competitive position in the crowded Caribbean tourism market, while reinforcing the value of strategic investment in high-quality guest experiences across every touchpoint of a traveler’s journey, from arrival to departure.
Club Kingston named best airport lounge in Latin America, Caribbean by Priority Pass
