By Barbara Ellington, Features Co-ordinator 
The beautiful Casablanca restaurant in which the grey and white theme dominates. - Contributed
TO SAY the former Trelawny Beach Hotel has undergone a transformation is an understatement. Located in Falmouth, Trelawny, it is now the first to bear the Starfish brand, joining the Breezes, Grand Lido and Hedonism properties in the SuperClubs All-inclusive chain of hotels.
Of the decor, Aida Issa told The Gleaner that with Starfish she wanted to create a feel that was happy, unique and elegant. This is evident as one enters the airy lobby that bears the starfish motif.
"I wanted to create a resort that was unlike any other in the Caribbean; the lobby where you get your first impression of what's in store, is a bright combination of colours using tiles and lights from Europe," she said.
"Working on the restaurants was a lot of fun for me as I got to be creative while trying to maintain the authenticity of the main theme."
For the curtains in Casablanca, Mrs. Issa used tartan woven silk fabric with Dupion silk trimming from France. The furniture for Giuseppe's Italian restaurant is coming from Italy and the lamps re hand-blown so the atmosphere will be authentic. The colour scheme will be red and green.
The main restaurant features bright blue and yellow tables and chairs with matching colonial style fans in light family atmosphere.
"The conference rooms will be finished within one week and there I have tried to combine elegance with functionality so that groups and conventions of all sizes will have successful meetings at Starfish. Within the next six months, all guest room bathrooms will be redone in marble," Mrs. Issa said.
There are 350 rooms on the spacious property and these include 40 ground-level cottages. The property caters to the entire family and on the past Easter weekend, in many instances grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren were included in several of the groups that had booked into the location for the extended holiday.
Nothing spectacular had been planned, it just happened to be the first major holiday weekend since the hotel's rebranding and official opening in February. And from all indications, the additional 200 rooms planned for future construction, will be more than welcome.
From as early as noon on Holy Thursday, over local 40 VIPs and their families, tourists and regular folk who just wanted to "chill" began to check into Starfish. Many were in the area to take the trek to Chukka Cove for the start of annual Carnival activities, some, like the Levys, visited a stud farm nearby, others walked about historic Fammouth but most kept to the property. A few expressed the wish for a chapel where those who so desired could worship.
General Manager Stephen Bethel, a Bahamian who has been here for just over three years, earned my nickname of the "omnipresent one" because he seemed to be everywhere at once, note-pad and pen ready to take complaints, suggestions and tips from all his guests.
He had a friendly word for all, produced a colourful kite for the "adult boys" who wanted to partake of the Easter tradition and even saw that an extra stove was on hand for the heavy traffic at the breakfast omelette line.
From my sojurn in The Bahamas, I grew to love a local favourite, conch salad, so when he extended an invitation to the manager's cocktail party on Saturday, I quickly asked that the delicacy be included on the menu. The tables were turned when, shortly before party time, I was asked to prepare said conch salad as the chefs were unfamiliar with the recipe. So, it was off to the kitchen where I donned apron, washed hands and went to work.
Naturally, it was a hit!
The children (and there was an average of three per family), had a ball during the weekend. Unlike some other child-friendly properties that provide structured activities for the younger ones, at Starfish, the children are free to enjoy themselves at will. They had no desire to move from the huge and newly built water sports area. And from morning till evening, the seemingly tireless bunch frolicked in the four swimming pools, two cold jacuzzis and three hot tubs, water slides, water falls and gazebos. Parents followed their progress from beach chairs strategically positioned in gazebos along the perimeter of the pool area.
Unfortunately, some became overly boisterous like the set I had to stop in their quest to empty a hot tub and others who thought the elevators were toys and put it out of service four times during the weekend.
It was very interesting to note the morning rituals as adults rose from as early as 5:30 a.m., staked out their territory with towels, books and beach bags, then returned to bed or breakfast. The idea was to beat the crowd to the best seats poolside.
Friday night some gorgeously tanned (and some horribly burnt) bodies settled by the beach to enjoy over two hours of circus activities. Hotel employees were trained by Stephanie Barreiro in tight wire and trapeze acts and after only four weeks, the troupe showed promise. The act opened with some juggling of objects including knives, twirling a ring of fire, and eating, balancing acts and some really scary snake dancing by a charmer who arrived on stage with three of the huge, slimy creatures in straw basket. He was a hit with the children who even wore the reptiles around their necks but I quickly put a respectable distance between myself and these monsters. The charmer at one point placed one snake's mouth into his. Frankly, I think they make much better shoes than dance partners.
The flying trapeze acts required concentration skill, trust in one's partner, confidence and guts; but as the waves crashed against the shore on a beautiful tropical night, the children sat entranced. Meanwhile, I kept making furtive glances towards the stage fearing that the snakes might have escaped.
Those who preferred peace and quiet, sipped tropical concoctions by the bars, read The Gleaner or dined at Munahana, the Japanese restaurant or in the sophisticated elegance of the gourmet restaurant, Casablanca. The more adventurous hung out in Bubbles Disco which features "Reggae Rain" that pours down on dancers as they do their thing.
On Saturday night, Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials rocked the crowd at a soca beach party till the wee hours. Many sampled the beach but rough seas kept them closer to shore or on John's Island, another newly constructed attraction.
