Jamaican culture in a Spanish hotel

AT THE Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, Friday nights are special. Dancing is under the stars on the beach adjacent to the swim-up pool bar. Reggae rhythms vibrate as visitors gyrate, catching the latest dance moves. There is authentic 'yard' cusine, and even the coconut jelly man is included. This is all part of the hotel's thrust to infuse a distinct local flavour within a Spanish hotel.

"We are not intruders here; we are partners. the only thing that is Spanish is the owners," affirms general manager (GM) Dimitris Kosvogiannis.

Sprawled over some eight acres, the hotel, which is the largest in Jamaica, with 1,056 rooms, welcomed its first guests in 2008. From the inception, the plan, according to Kosvogiannis, was to build a strong business and cultural link with the island.

Over 90 per cent of the 1,040 staff members - from executive to housekeeping - are Jamaicans, and most have been working at the hotel since it opened its doors.

"It's a foreign-owned hotel with the least number of expatriates," says the GM, adding that he had not been forced to lay off "not one single worker because of a slow season".

Fantastic job

Front-office manager Ana Alicia is one of the first employees. "It is fantastic here, although challenging, sometimes dealing with as many as 400 guests in one day, but it's my absolute pleasure," she beamed.

Marvin Grant, in charge of Jamaican reception, also has been at the hotel since the start, and is at ease dealing with a multi-ethnic clientele.

"Our guests are diverse: we have year-round visitors from Canada, Spain, Germany, China and Latin America. they love the Jamaican spirit," said Grant.

Lauding his staff, Rodcliffe Robertson, human resource director, said that the success the hotel has been enjoying must be credited to his dedicated team. "Our mission is to employ the best people we can find to train and deliver excellent customer service to all guests."

Great location

To this sophisticated five-star property sitting in an unspoilt, otherwise untouched cove just a turn away from Lucea and close to Montego Bay, the guests keep coming.

"I am delighted to say we are enjoying a 70 per cent occupancy rate during the summer, which is classified as the slow season," boasted Kosvogiannis, who is Greek, but enjoys Jamaican citizenship.

He is also a fully integrated team player. "I operate like a politician, going around and canvassing the views of the workers. They are part of the decision-making process.

"The staff suggested that we give Ruseas High High School a facelift before school resumes in September. So on Wednesday, we are going there, me first. I will be painting because I do not believe in managing from a distance," says the GM.

As part of the hotel's integration process, staff members are taught Spanish, and there is close collaboration with other hotels in the group.

"We are sending Baboo, our local Indian chef, to Brazil to train the chef there. that's how good he is, and how much we believe in our staff," he added.

The all-inclusive resort sports colonial-style architecture with Spanish and English influences. However, rich tropical foliage spread throughout the property gives it a Caribbean flavour. From the lobby, the first of five pools beckons. The main one features eight spa tubs and a swim-up bar.

Dining options at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa also infuse local fare. There are three buffet-style eateries and four à la carte restaurants which serve Mexican, Italian, Asian, and Caribbean cuisine. The smoke-free Miss Lou Bar specialises in premium international drinks, while others among the 13 bars focus on local liquors.

The Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa is part of the wider Fiesta Hotel Group of Spain.

The hotel is planning another phase of expansion, adding 700 more rooms at a cost of US$200 million.