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photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer - Beverly Lopez (right) has David Shields (centre) and Ruth Jankee in stitches at the tourism partnership reception at the Hilton Kingston last Monday.

Zachary Harding (right), deputy director of tourism, greets Edward Chin-Mook, president of Small Business Association.

Up close and personal, Burt Wright and Connie Herbert were picture of love at the tourism partnership reception at the Hilton Kingston poolside last Monday.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board kicked off the start of the winter tourist season on December 15 with a series of activities between the tourism capital, Montego Bay, the cruise ship Mecca, Ocho Rios and the heartbeat of the Caribbean, Kingston.

From as early as 6:30 a.m. last Monday, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and his team were at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to welcome the first visitor to the island.

By 8:30 a.m., the tourism team was docked at the cruise shipping pier in Ocho Rios showing the true Jamaican hospitality to passengers on the Princess cruise ship.

A day filled with excitement and cautious optimism for the upcoming season, the Hilton Kingston poolside was the venue for what was tagged, 'Tourism Partnership' reception.

Hospitality Jamaica brings you highlights of the reception that concluded the day's activities.