Hoteliers rallying around communities affected by Melissa

Across Jamaica, in tourist destinations minimally affected by Hurricane Melissa – from Montego Bay, St James to Ocho Rios, St Ann; Port Antonio in Portland and Kingston – hoteliers are helping their colleagues in the western and southern regions with their recovery and rebuilding.

They all appear to be singing from the same song book this Christmas season that the best way for Jamaicans in the diaspora and people around the world to support the island is to visit. The Jamaica Tourist Board supports that message, too, in its ‘Come Back to Give Back’ slogan.

Steve Beaver, co-owner of Geejam Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel in Port Antonio, says the sum total of the loss at his resort was one tree down at the beach and some minor repairs to the roof of the restaurant, but they dodged the bullet.

“Initially, we had quite a lot of cancellations because people felt guilty about coming,” he said, noting that they did not want to be seen to be flaunting and having a good time when they knew that there was so much suffering caused by the hurricane.

“Anyone who came at me with that kind of vibe, I said to them, ‘No, the best thing you can do for Jamaica right now is simply to come, because that’s what we need to get the engine moving and get back up to full speed as quickly as possible’. If people don’t come, it’s just going to take longer.”

Beaver said Geejam Hotel has been full from December 20 into the new year, something he noted is unprecedented because, normally, the resort is not full until after Christmas.

“I think that what’s happening is people are starting to heed that message and they’re realising we’re still here, it’s still an amazing place. It has a magic and so much soul, which so many of the other Caribbean islands don’t necessarily have. So, people are coming and they’re starting to book heavily now,” said the hotel co-owner while speaking to a contingent of journalists from Canada on a media trip to witness the strong recovery following Hurricane Melissa and to reassure travellers that Jamaica is open to welcome guests during the winter tourist season.

Business as usual

His statement echoes that of Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and Jamaican-Canadian businessman Wes Hall who attended a media brunch and luncheon at Iberostar Hotel on the eve of the start of the winter tourist season and underscored the importance of visits to the island.

He said it is business as usual at Geejam and that Toronto in Canada is a very strategic draw for the hotel, second only to New York and on par with Florida, both in the United States.

Guests make reservations for various reasons – a music recording session, a health and wellness retreat, vacations, honeymoons – and Beaver shared that the inquiries for weddings, as well as retreats, are increasing.

Having been spared the wrath of the hurricane, he said, they have undertaken a number of initiatives to help and support other areas that are suffering badly.

He noted that Nordia, his business partner Jon Baker’s wife, raised money and a bus full of supplies, including medicine and food items were delivered to Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, recently.

They reported to him that the areas that were badly damaged in St Elizabeth are already in recovery but it will take some time for full restoration.

“My message to Canada, as well as the rest of the world, is ‘you will still have an amazing time but we need you to come and we will deliver on the promise’.”

Admitting that he and co-owner Baker are not hoteliers but record guys, and that music is a part of their DNA, Beaver said an artiste had recently arrived and was in recording session at both villas.

Baker had Gee Street Records, a label in New York, with some major acts, like P.M. Dawn, Queen Latifah, while Beaver’s label, Beaver Music, was based in Hong Kong and targeting.

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