Montego Bay Gains A Ritz, Competitors Renovate

<B>Montego Bay Gains A Ritz, Competitors Renovate</B>

By Erika S. Warcholak

If introducing a U.S.-based deluxe hotel is any indication of a destination determined to bypass bad press and increase its competition on the meetings playing field, then Jamaica has boosted its eligibility. In addition to a new Ritz-Carlton, several Jamaican properties have renovated in an attempt to attract more U.S.-based corporate groups to the island.

"In truth, the statistics came out and Jamaica has the least crime against tourists out of every Caribbean country. However, in the United States, there's a certain perception because of the media," said Scott Robbins, director of food and beverage at the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort & Country Club. "People say, 'Oh my God, air strikes,' or they hear there's riots in Jamaica and the media will show a picture of a burning car from five years ago, but that's in Kingston--five hours from here. So, if there's a big problem in Austin, would you not go to New York?"

Fighting that misperception, Wyndham's new neighbor, the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, debuted in August as the first major chain to open in Jamaica since 1974. Located in the island's historic Rose Hall plantation area in Montego Bay, about 15 minutes from Sangster International Airport, the Ritz features 428 guest rooms, 51 Executive Suites, 36 Club Rooms, express checkin/checkout and an onsite fitness center. Catering to corporate executives, the Ritz's guest rooms all offer computer and fax hookups and twice-daily housekeeping.

For the meeting planner, the Ritz-Carlton offers 16,745 square feet of function space, including a 10,800-sq.-ft. ballroom, five meeting rooms and 5,000 square feet of outdoor function space, of which a 1,700-sq.-ft. veranda overlooking the hotel's White Witch golf course, the ocean and mountains is a particular hot spot. A conference concierge, 24-hour secretarial services and technology butlers also are on hand.

According to Wyndham's Robbins, the Ritz's entrance "is good for us, because they're getting companies now that haven't looked at Jamaica for years, like Maritz. Maritz wouldn't come back to Jamaica for the longest time."

At the Wyndham, "We are refreshing all of our rooms," said Robbins. "Every room was repainted by the end of February, and there's all brand-new mattresses, bed spreads and we just ordered new televisions, which will have video checkout and movies. And that's what we're doing until Wyndham gives us some more money to do a total renovation."

There isn't in-room Internet access at the Wyndham yet, but e-mail access is available at the towel hut and business center. "Wyndham as a whole is putting Wayport in all the rooms in its hotels, probably by the end of this year," said Robbins. "But for business meetings, we find out ahead of time what their technological needs are and bring in cable and wireless and make it available. Like anywhere, if you know your flaws, you work around it to fix it for your groups."

The Wyndham Rose Hall, located roughly 10 minutes from Sangster airport, is a 488-room property with a historical landscape and $7 million water park that offers groups a fun resort atmosphere with inventive incentive opportunities.

"We do a lot of incentives, that's when we get to do some fun team-building stuff, which is a blast. GM has been coming down quite often now and England-based Philips Lighting recently had an incentives trip for 300 people," said Robbins. "Some places, you walk in there and you're going to every other Ritz in the world and you don't know that you're in Jamaica. We may not have the newest hotel, but we have a lot of creativity."

The Wyndham has 11,000 square feet of total meeting space, including the 7,800-sq.-ft. Hanover & Rose Hall Ballroom, which accommodates up to 800 attendees, seven breakout rooms, a 500-sq.-ft. boardroom and seven outdoor function areas.

Meanwhile, at another neighboring Montego Bay property, the Half Moon Bay hotel recently upgraded its Internet access to high-speed T-1 lines. Guests can purchase $10 cyber cards in the main lobby and access the Web in a variety of points throughout the property, including the Coffee Shop, Shopping Village, Cyber Lounge and at two Royal Lounges.

A 24-hour onsite medical center, golf course, equestrian center, spa and fitness centers and more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space are key elements to the Half Moon Bay property. The hotel has a total of 244 rooms and 174 suites, and the 32 Royal Villas that dot the property all offer computers with Internet access. Cyber cafes are located throughout the 400-acre hotel.

The most luxurious of the five types of suites the property offers are the Imperial Suites, which have canopied beds. Some have separate dining areas or two bathrooms and come with private/shared pools. The Royal Villas, though, offer a different incentive/meeting experience. Each villa has five to seven separate bedrooms, a pool and private staff.

Located near the conference center, these villas "are a great concept for networking and team building," according to the hotel.

Half Moon Bay's function space includes the 12,000-sq.-ft. Cornwall Ballroom, which can handle up to 1,000 attendees theater-style or 650 classroom-style. There also is a 6,500-sq.-ft. conference center, which can handle up to 500 attendees theater-style or 256 classroom-style.

Corporations that have conducted business at the Half Moon Bay property in the past two years include Hoffman La Roche and <I>The Washington Post.