‘The Heart of Jamaica Is Its People’: ALG Vacations Shares Updates & Support Plans Post-Melissa

Hurricane Melissa has finished its destructive path through the Caribbean; now, countries like Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas are left to rebuild after enduring one of the worst storms to make landfall in recorded Atlantic history.

Jamaica is facing a crisis. The country took the brunt of the storm’s catastrophic winds and flooding, leaving much of the island in ruin. Jamaica hopes to reopen for tourism by Dec. 15, but whether or not that plan is feasible remains unclear.

ALG Vacations hosted an emergency Pro Power Hour webinar on Thursday, Oct. 30, to provide information to travel advisors about the current situation in Jamaica and how to best help clients with upcoming travel plans.

The webinar’s panelists featured representatives from ALGV, as well as special guests from the Jamaica Tourist Board. Jackie Marks, the global head of trade brands, Anderson Hernandez, the senior vice president of global contact centers, and Clint Shire, senior manager of education and implementation, represented the tour operator.

Philip Rose, deputy director of tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board, provided a heartfelt update on the country’s status in the storm’s aftermath. He was joined by his colleague Francine Carter Henry, manager of tour operators and airlines, towards the end of the webinar.

“Over the last week, it has been heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, to witness … [the] wrath of Mother Nature hit one of our most beloved destinations,” said Marks.

The executive expressed deep gratitude for the resilience and kindness of the travel community, highlighting how people’s spirit shines brightest in times of adversity.

“We’ve seen so much of that spirit and the kindness and the resilience, specifically in Jamaica and the people, but throughout our entire travel community,” said Marks. “When you think about all that, it is just [a] powerful reminder of what travel is. And that the heart of Jamaica is really not just the beaches, and it’s not just the music we love, but it is truly, truly the people.”

ALG Vacations’ Hurricane Melissa Cancellation Policy

For travel advisors who have clients with upcoming travel to Jamaica, there are multiple options for how to proceed.

For bookings arriving in Jamaica between Oct. 26, 2025 and Nov. 14, 2025, all bookings with Travel Protection Plus can receive a full travel credit or cash back (depending on the coverage purchased), including for the TPP as well. Commission protection is not eligible because TPP fees are being waived.

For bookings during that time period without TPP, clients can receive a full travel credit, and all penalties are waived. A cash back offer is also available.

As of writing, for bookings arriving on Nov. 15 and beyond, all standard TPP policies will apply, and commission will be protected per standard guidelines.

Marks noted that the situation in Jamaica is evolving, and that the case-by-case cancellation policy for each hotel affected by Melissa will likely roll out as more information becomes available. She stressed that ALGV won’t send travelers to a hotel that’s not ready to host them.

“We are going to reassess next week when we can get more information, get more footage, and really understand hotel by hotel, what we’re looking at, making sure that … we feel comfortable the experience that you’re going to receive is the experience that we can stand behind.”

Marks also clarified that if a client without TPP wants to cancel/rebook their trip now and face the penalties, they will be retroactively reimbursed if a later policy would have covered them.

ALG Vacations’ Advice for How Travel Advisors Can Help

Kindness is ingrained in ALG Vacations’ company ethos, and Jamaica is an important destination for the tour operator. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that ALGV is already planning relief efforts to help the country recover post-Melissa.

For travel advisors looking for ways to give back, the Jamaica Tourist Board has a website with up-to-date information on the recovery, a list of vetted charities, and the option to donate directly.

Marks also outlined a basic road map for how ALGV will participate in and support the country’s tourism recovery efforts.

According to Marks, ALG Vacations will soon launch a comprehensive sales recovery strategy to help drive tourism back to Jamaica once hotels are ready to welcome guests again.

She also shared that ALGV is planning new opportunities for travel advisors to visit Jamaica through independent FAMs, once it’s appropriate to do so. These trips will allow advisors to experience the island firsthand while also participating in relief and rebuilding efforts through donations, supplies, and volunteer work.

A dedicated volunteerism FAM is also in development, which will focus on giving back to local organizations and communities on the ground.

Finally, Marks announced that she and Carson Kressley, ALGV’s travel advisor ambassador, will film an upcoming episode of Pros in Paradise in Jamaica. The broadcast will spotlight the island’s recovery progress and share updates for travel advisors.

More details will be released on World Kindness Day, Nov. 13, aligning with ALGV’s commitment to compassion, care, and community.

“I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years now, and unfortunately, I have gone through this before, as my team has. It’s a little bit remnant of what Wilma did to Cancun,” said Marks. “We are proud to take the leadership in uniting our amazing travel advisor community around how we can help and do that together.”