JHTA Montego Bay Chapter spearheads sustained support spanning House 10, education, volunteerism, fundraising and hurricane recovery

For more than a decade, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has been a committed partner of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, investing in the care and development of children and young people at the SOS Children’s Village in Montego Bay/ 

The relationship is part of a longstanding tradition of tourism-sector support for SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica in Western Jamaica. Rose Hall Developments, a founding partner of the Montego Bay SOS Village, provided the initial land on which the Village was established, helping to create the foundation for the organisation’s work with children and families in the region.

Building on that foundation, the JHTA has developed a longstanding relationship with the Village, with its support extending beyond the sponsorship of House 10 at the Montego Bay SOS Village to include educational support, volunteer activities, fundraising and practical assistance during times of crisis.

Spearheaded by the JHTA Montego Bay Chapter, the partnership has brought together JHTA members, hotel partners and other tourism stakeholders to respond to the evolving needs of the Village and the children in its care.

The relationship was highlighted during the second staging of Community Connect 2026, hosted at White Witch Golf Course in Montego Bay, which brought together business leaders, tourism stakeholders, development partners, philanthropists and community advocates to explore ways of strengthening support for children, families and young people.

Leading the JHTA Montego Bay Chapter’s engagement with SOS is Kerry-Ann Quallo-Casserly, Area Chairman for Montego Bay and First Vice President of the JHTA, who has helped drive the Chapter’s ongoing support for the Village.

Quallo-Casserly said the relationship reflects the tourism industry’s responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of the communities in which its members operate.  “Our partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica is built on a commitment that has grown over more than a decade. Sponsoring House 10 is one part of that relationship, but our involvement goes much further. Through the JHTA Montego Bay Chapter, we have worked with our members and hotel partners to respond to needs, support education, volunteer our time and mobilise resources. For us, it is about being a consistent partner and helping to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and young people.”

A key component of the Chapter’s commitment is the JHTA’s annual Back-to-School programme, now in its second year. Through the initiative, the JHTA provides practical assistance to help children prepare for the new school year, including school bags, uniforms, books, pens, pencils and other essential school supplies.

 The programme reflects the JHTA’s recognition that educational support can help ease some of the financial pressures associated with preparing children for the new school year while ensuring they have the basic tools they need to participate fully in the classroom.

The JHTA Montego Bay Chapter has also contributed its time and expertise directly at the Village. As part of its Labour Day activities, Chapter members and partners participated in a clean-up project at the SOS Children’s Village in Montego Bay, providing hands-on assistance to improve the environment for the children and staff.

Following Hurricane Melissa, the Chapter further demonstrated the strength of the tourism industry’s collaborative response by working with hotel partners to mobilise furniture and other essential resources for the Village.

Hotel partners including Half Moon, Secrets St. James, Secrets Wild Orchid and Breathless Montego Bay provided furniture and other assistance to help the SOS Village recover from the impact of the hurricane.  “The response following Hurricane Melissa showed the strength of the tourism family,” Quallo-Casserly said. “Our hotel partners understood that the children at SOS needed more than our thoughts—they needed practical support. Working together, we were able to help replace essential furniture and resources and contribute to restoring a sense of comfort and normalcy at the Village.”

The JHTA Montego Bay Chapter is also looking forward to reinitiating its Fine Wine fundraiser, which will resume following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. Proceeds from the initiative are directed towards supporting the SOS Village and addressing its ongoing needs.  The fundraiser provides an important avenue for the tourism industry and its partners to contribute financial resources towards the continued care, development and wellbeing of children and young people at the Village.

Hewitt Walker, Village Director of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, said the JHTA has become an integral part of the Village’s support network through its longstanding commitment.  “The JHTA has been much more than a supporter of SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica; it has become a longstanding partner in the development and wellbeing of the children and young people in our care. For more than a decade, the Association has stood with us through House 10, education support, volunteer initiatives, fundraising and, most recently, the recovery following Hurricane Melissa. 

What makes this relationship particularly meaningful is its consistency. The JHTA continues to listen to what our children and the Village need and works with its members and hotel partners to help us respond. That kind of sustained commitment gives us confidence that we are not walking this journey alone. We are deeply grateful for the JHTA’s partnership and for the many individuals and businesses across the tourism sector who continue to invest their time, resources and goodwill in helping our children build brighter futures.” 

Sean Patrick, Fund Development and Communication Advisor at SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, emphasised that while partnerships bring many forms of support, financial contributions remain essential to sustaining the day-to-day care and development of children.  “It takes resources to provide the quality of care that children deserve. Beyond food, clothing and a safe place to live, there are school expenses, healthcare, transportation, utilities, staffing, educational support, counselling, extracurricular activities and countless other needs that come with helping a child grow and develop. The reality is that caring for children is a significant and ongoing financial commitment, and every contribution makes a difference.

The JHTA’s support, whether through its direct financial contributions, fundraising, school supplies, furniture, volunteerism or its ability to mobilise hotel partners, goes a long way in helping us meet those needs. What is especially valuable is that the JHTA continues to show up—not only when there is a major appeal, but as a partner over the long term. That consistency allows us to plan, respond and continue investing in the children and young people in our care.”

SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica provides family-like care for children without parental care, while also working with vulnerable families to strengthen their ability to care for their children and prevent family separation. Its programmes extend into education, youth development, family strengthening and community support.

The story of the Montego Bay Village is one of partnership and shared responsibility, beginning with founding partners such as Rose Hall Developments and continuing through the sustained involvement of organisations such as the JHTA and its membership.

For the JHTA, meaningful community investment is not limited to financial donations. It also includes mobilising members, sharing expertise, volunteering time, creating partnerships and responding when communities face unexpected challenges.

Through House 10, the Back-to-School programme, Labour Day volunteerism, the Fine Wine fundraiser, hotel-partner support and post-Hurricane Melissa assistance, the JHTA Montego Bay Chapter has continued to demonstrate a sustained commitment to the SOS Village and the children it serves.

As Jamaica continues to recover and rebuild, the JHTA remains committed to working with its members, hotel partners and other stakeholders to strengthen the SOS Village and support its ongoing needs. 

The Association sees this longstanding partnership as an important example of how the tourism industry can contribute to stronger communities and help create opportunities for children and young people to build confident, productive futures.