Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
Josef Forstmayr, general manager for Round Hill (left), talks shop with Dermot Connolly, general manager for the Wynham Rose Hall Hotel and Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism at the Ritz Carlton re-opening reception recently. - PHOTOS BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN
Western Bureau: THE RITZ Carlton Rose Hall re-opened with a bang to herald its grand return to the hospitality industry, with an event on the scenic ballroom terrace last Thursday.
The reception started at 7:00 p.m. with lots of mingling as patrons used the time to catch up with associates and competitors in the industry.
General manager of the Ritz Carlton, Martin Nicholson, was all smiles as he welcomed guests to the official re-opening of the luxury hotel. Expressing gratitude to all present Mr. Nicholson said special thanks to, "the wonderful ladies and gentlemen" who work at the property as well as others in the industry.
"For the past 60 days I cannot tell you how much support we had from the entire community," he said. "The business community, our neighbours, our friends, our colleagues, our some time competitors and our purveyors were more than helpful to get this property open as soon as possible."
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Echoing these sentiments, guest speaker Industry and Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba commended all those who aided in the restoration of the hotel, citing that while there is competition in the industry it is good to know that they can come together in times of need.
Following the speeches was a ribbon-cutting exercise and what a big ribbon it was! A royal blue ribbon with silver trimming was strung up between two of the pillars on the terrace - a symbol of the hotel's return to strength and glory.
Formalities aside, guests included: Paul Pennicook - director of tourism, Dennis Morrison - chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, Carrole Guntley - director general of tourism and other major players in the industry, who let down their hair and enjoyed the exquisite samples from the hotel's top three restaurants Jasmines, White Witch and Horizons. This was accompanied by the music of Bob Marley, Beres Hammond and Gregory Isaacs and played by the talented Sound Energy Band.
