Vamos a la playa, oh, oh, oh, oh
click here to read article as it appeared in Jam-boree
In 1655 England seized Jamaica from Spain- it would appear that
now, some 350 years later, the Spanish are back en force. Over
the last couple of years the Spanish tour operators and hotel
companies have been grabbing headlines with large-scale projects
all over the island. And they've been welcomed with open arms.
Despite Jamaica's strong position with U.S. and Canadian
travelers, Europe has been less consistent in recent decades.
Spain has made a major commitment to the island and there's hope
that this will lead to the reopening of other European markets.
Jamaica has benefited from positive trends within the travel
industry that have in-effect anointed the Caribbean a "safe
haven" in an otherwise troubled world. In addition, Jamaica's
infrastructure including its major airports and new highways,
that have improved access to remote parts of the island, have
encouraged investment. To keep up the momentum, the Jamaican
Tourist Board launched a new ad campaign with the tagline, "Once
You Go, You Know", focusing on the extraordinary diversity,
culture and charms of the island - and designed to maintain that
growth of the tourism industry. Jamaica's tourism officials
estimate that overseas investment will add more than 5,000 rooms
to the island's inventory by 2007. In 2004, Spain's RIU group
opened more than 800 rooms between two properties in Negril, and
they have plans for a further 850 in Ocho Rios in 2005. Sandals
Whitehouse on the south coast, with 80 suites among its 360
rooms, welcomed its first guests in February. The Sunset Resort
Group will launch Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort (formerly
Renaissance Jamaica Grande) with 720 rooms, while Negril Cabins
is open under the new name Sunset at the Palms Resort & Spa.
Country Country in Negril, acquired by the owners of the Coyaba
Resort, adds six rooms to the existing 14 this winter with
another 50 expected by 2006; while a new SuperClubs hotel, Rooms
on the Beach (formerly Club Jamaica) opens in November with 104
rooms and suites. Other major projects underway or in the works
include: Rose Hall Expansion In 2004 Prime Minister P J
Patterson broke ground for a US$850 million hotel project in the
Rose Hall area of St James, just beyond the Wyndham. It is a
joint venture between Rose Hall Developments Limited and
Iberostar, a Spanish hotel chain that presently operates in the
Dominican Republic, United States, Spain, Greece and Turkey.
According to chairman of the Iberostar Group, Miguel Fluxa, his
company will be constructing three hotels over a five-year
period, resulting in 950 new rooms at Rose Hall. These
properties will cater mainly to Europeans. Iberostar will spend
US$200 million in the first phase, to construct a 350-room hotel
that is scheduled to be on the market and ready for business in
winter 2006. The hotel will feature, among other things a
swim-up bar, a theatre bar and cigar bar. Rose Hall Developments
and the Resort Properties Group announced plans in mid- February
2005 for The Palmyra Resort & Spa at Rose Hall, located next to
the Ritz- Carlton on 16 acres of pristine waterfront. The
Palmyra will stretch along one-half mile of Caribbean ocean and
includes 26 villas and 504 one-, twoand three-bedroom
condominium units. "This is the last of the great beachfront
properties," said Robert T. Trotta, moving force behind the
Resort Properties Group. "The Palmyra presents the perfect
occasion to create a sustainable, luxury community that
celebrates the island's resources through architecture,
amenities and experience. We're pleased to offer a ground floor
real estate opportunity in a culturallyunmatched seaside haven."
Groundbreaking for the first phase of development, consisting of
two condo buildings, the Palmyra E'SPA, infinity pool and beach
is set for spring 2005, with the project reaching completion in
late 2006. Also under construction are the 'Shoppes at Rose
Hall', an upscale shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
Trelawny Development The most ambitious project underway in
Jamaica is the US$1.2 billion Harmony Cove development located
between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. This 1,400-acre beachfront
property will include three major luxury hotels, three themed
boutique resorts, two golf courses, more than 200 exclusive
residential homes (manors and villas), upwards of 200,000 square
feet of retail, dining and entertainment space, as well as a
world-class, 300-slip marina and private airstrip at Braco.
Rumours have even circulated that Donald Trump, is looking to
secure a licence from the Government to operate a casino in
Harmony Cove. Other projects in Trelawny parish include, AM
Resorts four hotels that will create 1,700 rooms and Grupo
Pinero's three new hotels totaling 1,800 rooms in nearby St.
Anne. I love Lucea Prime Minister P J Patterson announced in
2004 that plans are well advanced for the acquisition of a
property on the eastern side of the Lucea harbour in Hanover for
the construction of a 1,500-room fivestar hotel by yet another
Spanish hotel chain. Patterson also confirmed that design work
for the construction of the Lucea Shipping Pier was progressing
satisfactorily, and that negotiations were taking place for the
acquisition of a parcel of land to facilitate the development;
this would include a cruise ship facility. "I am sure that the
development of this part of Hanover between the harbour and the
hotel makes progress for Lucea and its environs irreversible,"
said the prime minister.
**for more information visit
www.jam-boree.com, Jamaica's visitor website, the complete
source for travel and tourism information featuring hand-picked
deals on vacation packages, hotels, villas, flights and car
rentals**