ThropX Investment Conference 2026 targets real estate growth in Negril and Treasure Beach

The fifth ThropX Investment Conference is being positioned as a week-long real estate and development showcase for western Jamaica, with the 2026 staging set for May 24 to 30. The event is expected to draw local and overseas investors, developers and policy makers for a close look at property opportunities, infrastructure plans and the practical steps involved in building and operating in high-demand Jamaican locations.

Founder and CEO Winthrop Wellington said the idea grew out of his online audience around the On Deck with Throop podcast and his Sunday live streams. What began as a proposed meet-up became a conference after he decided to bring in podcast guests, including realtors, bankers and other professionals who could help people considering relocation or investment in Jamaica.

Speaking from Travellers Beach Resort on Negril’s Seven Mile Beach, Wellington said the area’s shoreline continues to pull visitors, residents and investors. However, he argued that Negril still needs more resources to reach its potential, despite what he described as the strongest level of investment attention he has seen in the last five to seven years from both private interests and government.

The 2026 programme is expected to include presentations from the Airports Authority of Jamaica, NEPA and the Real Estate Board of Jamaica, which is also a sponsor this year. Wellington said attendees are awaiting updates on the planned Negril International Airport in Little London, roughly 20 minutes from downtown Negril, as well as information on building rules for the area, including questions around permissible heights.

Wellington said major infrastructure, tourism and real estate activity could open a new phase of growth for Negril. He also pointed to interest from the Jamaican diaspora, young professionals and Kingston-based developers, while stressing the need for more housing near Negril for hotel and hospitality workers who now commute from places such as Lucea and Savanna-la-Mar.

The conference will also feature guided real estate tours in Negril and Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, covering land, hotels, completed projects and developments under way. Wellington said recovery after the hurricane will remain an important theme, noting that many residents are still without basic services such as electricity and water.