Jamaica’s tourism industry is breathing a sigh of relief, after escaping the worst of the powerful Hurricane Beryl, which caused catastrophic damage in other parts of the Caribbean.
The south side of the island “got well and truly beaten,” said Adrian Whitehead, General Manager of the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall. Some communities were still waiting to get water and power back during TravelPulse Canada’s visit last week.
A balcony at Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Montego Bay is ready to welcome tourists despite a brush with Hurricane Beryl. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
But the north coast corridor that is home to the majority of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure was largely spared, with only minor damage reported in key destinations including Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. We stayed in two different Mo’Bay properties, and our group toured several others. The bottom line: if you didn’t know there had been a hurricane three weeks ago, you wouldn’t suspect.
Angella Bennett, Regional Director Canada for the Jamaica Tourist Board, said timely information delivered to stakeholders of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre founded by Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett made dealing with this hurricane easier than past storms.
“At every stage we knew what was happening,” says Bennett. “And we were able to keep our tour operators and other industry members fully informed. It was a very tangible result of the Global Resilience Centre.”
Every time a destination is mentioned in connection with a hurricane, people take notice and it creates uncertainty. The aftermath of Beryl was no different, with scenes of heavy damage and flooding in the south causing anxiety among travellers, even though the reality was very different on the island’s north coast.
“There was a week when people were unsure. And there was some terrible damage to the southern parts of the island,” says Bennett. “But the bookings are coming back, and all our tour operators are predicting a strong winter. Travel is still very much top of mind.”
The welcoming lobby at the Royalton Hideaway Montego Bay. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
The effervescent Shawn Moses, General Manager of the Royalton Hideaway, which opened as an adults-only property last November, says the resort easily weathered Beryl. The hotel was first built as the Trelawny Beach Hotel in 1973, and the structure was built to last.
“This is the safest place to be. This building cannot go anywhere. It has steel-reinforced concrete throughout. It has stood the test of time.”
“We bounced back the very next day, like it never happened,” said Moses. “We lost two gazebos. Thank God, because they were ready to be replaced. Now we’ll have two beautiful new ones.”
Adrian Whitehead, General Manager, Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Whitehead has only been in his position as GM of Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall for 11 weeks, so Beryl was a bit of a baptism by fire. But the three-decade hotel executive has spent many years in the Caribbean, with Beryl the 16th hurricane he has lived through.
There were close to 900 guests and 150 staff members on property when the hurricane approached.
“By 10:30 am we encouraged everybody inside. By 12:00 it was getting uncomfortable outside, but I wouldn’t say it was dangerous. By 1:00 pm it was dangerous, so we had everybody inside. We got back to rooms between 10:00 and 12:00 pm once I could stop them drinking. Once they realized the storm was gone it was like party city.”
Whitehead says the resort was fully operational, with everything open 72 hours after Beryl passed. The property also lost a wedding gazebo – this one they liked – and plans are already in place for a “bigger and better and smarter” wedding space.
Hurricane? What hurricane? The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall is in fine shape three weeks after Hurricane Beryl. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
The GM says hotel staff were eager to begin the cleanup even before the storm had fully passed. “Everyone was so keen to get the place up and running. Hospitality runs deep with everybody at this resort. After COVID, we don’t want a little hurricane to worry us. So we’re having fun with it. We have a new drink called the Hurricane Beryl. I have no idea what’s in it but it knocks you for six.”
Both Moses and Whitehead say the powerful national brand Jamaica has created is driving tourism success.
“I love the Royalton Hideaway brand,” says Moses. “But more than that, people love the Jamaica brand. It trumps everything.”
Whitehead agrees that Jamaica offers something very special to visitors.
“I’ve been in Jamaica, this will be my eleventh year over my career. Jamaican hospitality is just outstanding. I know my friends in a different country are going to slap me as a result. But there’s just something about Jamaican hospitality that makes a huge difference.”
He continues: “Jamaica has so much to offer. It really has a deep-bred culture. It has a culture of hospitality, then it has its music, it has its food, it has its country, it’s got all of these things that come with it. I haven’t experienced genuine hospitality – I’ve come close – but I haven’t experienced it any more than I’ve experienced it here. I think Jamaica is famous around the world and it really lives up to the fame.”
Topics From This Article to Explore
