Staff members from Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club sharing breakfast to the students at Exchange All Age School. The occasion was a 'breakfast discussion' held at the school in observance of National Tourism Awareness Week. A MAJOR refurbishing exercise is now underway at Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club which when completed, will make it one of the finest Golf Resorts in the Caribbean.
The J$350 million refurbishing exercise has been ongoing since Sandals acquired the hotel in April 1999. Under Phase 1 of the upgrading exercise, all support services areas of the hotel have been refurbished. These include the laundry, receiving bay and security posts.
Sixty-seven rooms have been refurbished, carpeted and tiles replaced, soft furnishings changed and bathrooms renovated.
All public areas at the hotel are also being upgraded, while an ultra modern front lobby is under construction. All four-gourmet restaurants at the hotel have been refurbished. The gym has been expanded, air conditioned and outfitted with new equipment.
The seating capacity at the Reef Terrace is being expanded, while an adjoining new wedding gazebo is being built. The piano bar is also being refurbished and in keeping with its new theme, will be adorned with gold paraphernalia.
Just under J$20 million has been spent so far under Phase I of the upgrading exercise. Phase II will commence shortly with the construction of six Ultra suites in the Rivera building. These are scheduled to be completed in time for 'Winter 2000'.
According to Sandals Chairman Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, the current refurbishing exercise at Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club "underscores our commitment to offering our guests a world class product and demonstrates our abiding confidence in Jamaica's future".
The 237 room Sandals Ocho Rios was purchased by Sandals in April 1999 for US$14 million. Sandals previously operated the hotel for a decade. The Ciboney Group owned the property until it came under the control of Crown Eagle Insurance Company, part of the Eagle Group that was taken over by the Government of Jamaica's Financial Sector Adjustment Company FINSAC.
Contributed
