Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director
Josef Forstmayr has been welcoming guests to Round Hill Hotel andVillas since he began as managing director in 1989. Under Josef’s direction, Round Hill has won countless prestigious awards and accolades including the World Travel Awards' "Best Villas" for six consecutive years, AAA's "Four Diamond Award of Excellence,” the Brass Key Award for "Most Romantic Resort," and has been featured on Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best List.”
Josef has a passion for all things Jamaican and has lived on the island since 1979. Prior to joining Round Hill, Josef served as assistant manager at Coconut Cove in Negril, later moving to the Tryall Golf and Beach Hotel as resident manager. Soon after, he was namedgeneral manager at the Trident Villas and Hotel in Port Antonio, Jamaica before settling in at Round Hill.
Josef’s passion and enthusiasm for Jamaica and the Caribbean led to his appointment in April 2010 as President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA). During his tenure, Josef hopes to raise awareness of the importance of tourism throughout the Caribbean with the CHTA’s "Tourism is Key" advocacy campaign. He is also dedicated to promoting locally produced products from beer and rum to sauces and agricultural products to support local economies. In addition, Josef strives to strengthen local flavors of the various islands, promoting regional Caribbean cuisine through various culinary festivals and competitions. Finally, Josef is working with the CHTA to promote the Caribbean as the best warm weather destination in the western hemisphere through a targeted regional marketing campaign.
In additional to the CHTA, Josef currently serves as a director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and The Tourism Enhancement Fund, and was president of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) from June 2001 – 2003. He is also the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Austria. In 2005 Josef received The Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer for his contribution to Jamaica’s Tourism industry. He was named Hotelier of the Year by the JHTA in 1993 and 1996 and Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel Association in 2007. Josef was born in Steyr, Austria and is fluent in German, English, French and Italian. He attended the University of Salzburg where he studied Economic Sciences and Tourism and the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.
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