Tweet
Gloustershire Hotel back in business
Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator
Hotelier John Sinclair has reopened the 93-room Gloustershire hotel on Montego Bay's Hip Strip after three years of locking shop. Some 60 rooms were occupied during the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, the hotelier tells Hospitality Jamaica.
Sinclair has also revealed that he pumped close to US$6 million into what could be termed a "brand-new resort".
"The entire property was gutted, the bedrooms and bathrooms are new, so is the roofing on one section and most of the furniture," Sinclair said, as he outlined plans to help revive the strip that lost some of its hip with the closure of the former SuperClubs Breezes Montego Bay and indefinite shutting down of the Fantasy and Sea Gardens resorts.
Fantasy has been closed for approximately 17 years.
The Gloustershire neighbours the world-famous Doctors Cave Beach, one of the most distinguishing landmarks on the popular Gloucester Avenue, is walking distance from the city's centre of entertainment and is one of the only remaining European plan hotels in the tourism capital.
The property is the former Beach View Hotel, one of the first to make its mark on Gloucester Avenue.
"It has been completely modernised, transformed into a semi-boutique resort," boasted Sinclair, as he described how 85 of the rooms are classified in the superior and standard category, while eight have been transformed into junior suites.
Two boardrooms and a conference room that can accommodate up to 70 persons are among the amenities that the resort now boasts.
Still, modernised for Sinclair and his team means a Wi-Fi equipped resort, complemented by a business centre, Jacuzzi that lights up at nights and a swimming pool that has colours that change with its mood.
"Our return to active business will definitely pump some life into an area that is lined with several businesses," said the hotel's owner, adding that some 70 persons are to be employed to deliver customer service on par with Destination Jamaica's image.
reopening
He argues that, in the last year, a number of persons thought he would not have been able to reopen, "But I had to do it even though it cost a lot of money and time."
Commending the move, Jamaica Tourist Board Chairman Dennis Morrison said, "The resuscitation of the Hip Strip is long overdue, and my hope is that the reopening of The Gloustershire will focus attention on the steps needed to be taken to resolve outstanding issues that are in the way of other properties being brought back into operation."
Morrison, who was named chairman last week, described the move by Sinclair as bold, "given the competitive environment of the industry and the economy".
Sinclair himself has said now that he has returned to the very competitive marketplace, his goal is to be able to compete successfully, "We tried to come up with something clean, elegant and city-type. We are not a boutique hotel, but there are elements of that."
The Gloustershire also boasts some of the largest rooms in any resort on the island, and comes equipped with flat-screen televisions, coffee makers, in-room safe boxes and in-room Internet.
Sinclair's design team has transcended the blue from the ocean back to the resort, using a beautiful sea blue, and added a gym for locals on the run.
The resort has a reputation of its repeat business being 40 per cent Jamaicans. "We want back our Jamaican clientele," he says.
[email protected]
Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator
Hotelier John Sinclair has reopened the 93-room Gloustershire hotel on Montego Bay's Hip Strip after three years of locking shop. Some 60 rooms were occupied during the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, the hotelier tells Hospitality Jamaica.
Sinclair has also revealed that he pumped close to US$6 million into what could be termed a "brand-new resort".
"The entire property was gutted, the bedrooms and bathrooms are new, so is the roofing on one section and most of the furniture," Sinclair said, as he outlined plans to help revive the strip that lost some of its hip with the closure of the former SuperClubs Breezes Montego Bay and indefinite shutting down of the Fantasy and Sea Gardens resorts.
Fantasy has been closed for approximately 17 years.
The Gloustershire neighbours the world-famous Doctors Cave Beach, one of the most distinguishing landmarks on the popular Gloucester Avenue, is walking distance from the city's centre of entertainment and is one of the only remaining European plan hotels in the tourism capital.
The property is the former Beach View Hotel, one of the first to make its mark on Gloucester Avenue.
"It has been completely modernised, transformed into a semi-boutique resort," boasted Sinclair, as he described how 85 of the rooms are classified in the superior and standard category, while eight have been transformed into junior suites.
Two boardrooms and a conference room that can accommodate up to 70 persons are among the amenities that the resort now boasts.
Still, modernised for Sinclair and his team means a Wi-Fi equipped resort, complemented by a business centre, Jacuzzi that lights up at nights and a swimming pool that has colours that change with its mood.
"Our return to active business will definitely pump some life into an area that is lined with several businesses," said the hotel's owner, adding that some 70 persons are to be employed to deliver customer service on par with Destination Jamaica's image.
reopening
He argues that, in the last year, a number of persons thought he would not have been able to reopen, "But I had to do it even though it cost a lot of money and time."
Commending the move, Jamaica Tourist Board Chairman Dennis Morrison said, "The resuscitation of the Hip Strip is long overdue, and my hope is that the reopening of The Gloustershire will focus attention on the steps needed to be taken to resolve outstanding issues that are in the way of other properties being brought back into operation."
Morrison, who was named chairman last week, described the move by Sinclair as bold, "given the competitive environment of the industry and the economy".
Sinclair himself has said now that he has returned to the very competitive marketplace, his goal is to be able to compete successfully, "We tried to come up with something clean, elegant and city-type. We are not a boutique hotel, but there are elements of that."
The Gloustershire also boasts some of the largest rooms in any resort on the island, and comes equipped with flat-screen televisions, coffee makers, in-room safe boxes and in-room Internet.
Sinclair's design team has transcended the blue from the ocean back to the resort, using a beautiful sea blue, and added a gym for locals on the run.
The resort has a reputation of its repeat business being 40 per cent Jamaicans. "We want back our Jamaican clientele," he says.
[email protected]
Comment