NEW YORK -- Jamaica's hotels and resorts are sprucing up in time
for the start of the winter season, while new hotels are popping up
around the island.
In addition, a few old favorites have new names, while others
have new owners.
The following is a rundown of what's happening:
Montego Bay
Tryall Golf, Tennis and Beach Club made several additions this
year, including an Internet room where guests can access their
e-mail accounts and check on their investments.The resort also added a fitness room, a golf driving range and a
massage center and beauty salon.
Tryall Golf, Tennis and Beach Club
Phone: (800) 238-5290
Web: www.tryallclub.com
The Quality Inn Montego Bay changed its name to the
Gloucestershire Hotel, the property's original name.The hotel recently added eight junior suites and refurbished its
rooms, adding air conditioning and televisions.
Gloucestershire Hotel
Phone: (876) 952-4420
Sandals Montego Bay refurbished 30 rooms and will convert 44
beachfront units to "honeymoon concierge" rooms.Sandals Royal Caribbean now offers 24-hour room service to its
concierge-level guests.
The resort also changed the name of its offshore island from
Kokomo Island to Sandals Cay and moved its diving operation there.
The resort added three wedding gazebos, as well.
In other Sandals news, Beaches Inn, formerly Poinciana,
redecorated its conference center (there's now a beachfront terrace
area for functions) and 75% of its rooms, which are now equipped
with coffeemakers and hair dryers.
Sandals
Phone: (800) SANDALS
Web: www.sandals.com
Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay
Ciboney Ocho Rios, which was acquired by the Sandals chain,
will close Sept. 1 for the first phase of a multiyear, $10 million
renovation.The 300-room resort will reopen Dec. 15 as Beaches Ciboney Golf
Resort and Spa for guests ages 16 and older.
Sandals
(800) BEACHES or (800) SANDALS
Grand Lido Sans Souci has spent the last year upgrading its
suites. During that time, the resort's seven penthouse suites and
Pavarotti suite have been refurbished.Another SuperClubs property, Breezes Golf and Beach Resort in
Runaway Bay, built a new bar for the nudies at the "au natural"
beach and added restroom facilities.
In addition, the outdoor Starlight Grill added vegetarian dishes
to its menu.
SuperClubs
Phone: (800) GO-SUPER
Negril and the South Coast
Several small hotels have sprung up in Negril, Jamaica's
"capital of casual."Among the new hotels is the 16-room Hotel Commingle in Savanna
la Mar, (876) 918-1465, and the Sea Gem Hotel, (876) 957-9815,
which has 22 rooms in operation; a few more are planned for
September.
Two other hotels, the 10-room Moondance Hotel on Norman Manley
Boulevard, and the 48-room Negril Blue Lagoon, are scheduled to
begin construction soon.
The hip Rockhouse Hotel added eight studio rooms for a total of
28 units and refurbished its villas.Rockhouse Hotel
Phone: (876) 957-4373
Web: www.rockhousehotel.com
The Point Village Resort added facilities for small meetings
and company retreats, including a conference room that seats 60 and
a boardroom that seats 12. The resort also added a nightclub.Point Village Resort
Phone: (877)-POINTJA
Web: www.pointvillage.com
Port Antonio
The Sonrise Beach Retreat in St. Mary, formerly the Strawberry
Fields Camping and Cottage Resort, is now open to overnight
guests.In addition to the camping area, the property now offers six
cottages and a suite for overnight guests.
The 18-acre resort features a private beach surrounded by
thousands of undeveloped acres of land with waterfalls.
Sonrise Beach Retreat
Phone: (876) 776-7676
Kingston
The Courtleigh Hotel and Suites plans to introduce an
extended-stay option to its accommodations mix.To this end, the hotel has added a room category that includes
microwaves and refrigerators, larger bathrooms and sitting
areas.
Courtleigh Hotel and Suites
Phone: (876) 929-9000