(Jamaica Observer) Karisma Hotels and Resorts on Tuesday announced that it is investing more than US$900 million in a mega hotel project in St Ann that will, over a decade, add 4,000 new rooms to Jamaica’s tourism sector and provide at least 8,000 direct jobs.
Ruben Becerra, vice-president of corporate affairs and business development for the Mexican resort company which partners with TUI — the world’s largest tour operator — made the announcement at the Jamaica Tourist Board headquarters in Kingston.
He said his company’s decision to increase its investment in the island was driven by the fact that Jamaica is one of the three fastest-growing tourism destinations in the Caribbean.
“The three fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean are Cancun, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica,” Becerra told journalists at a news conference. “People view these destinations as very safe.”
Jamaica, he added, already enjoys a good reputation” and “the demand is there”.
Becerra said the new nine-hotel resort project will be built on 226 acres of land recently acquired in Llandovery, St Ann.
He declined to state the purchase price of the land, saying that his company was still tying up the sale and that the vendor was from the private sector.
Becerra also said his company was working with local banks to acquire funding and that his company would put some equity into the venture. However, he said it was “too premature to say what the equity will be” as they are “in the process of finalising the master plan”.
He expected ground will be broken on the first property in time for it to be opened in November 2018 with new international brands that are not yet in Jamaica.
Karisma, already operates 25 hotels worldwide, one of which is the 138-suite Sensatori Jamaica in Negril.
The resort company is now expanding the property with an additional 149 suites.
“We are extremely excited to continue working and growing alongside the people of Jamaica, and we remain committed to further enhancing the already great tourism industry here,” Becerra said.
