Errol Hanna

Businessman Errol Hanna says he has on the drawing board a 124-room hotel for Long Bay, Portland which will focus on the growing health niche of the world's tourism market.

Hanna, principal of Portland Seacliff Development Company, says that construction of the resort is scheduled to begin next year, "with a projected opening of late 2003".

The hotel is to be constructed on land on which Hanna currently operates a small villa in the east coast tourist resort. It will be constructed to allow for expansion to 180-200 rooms.

Hanna declined to provide details on the funding of the project, but in a news release last week said he had held "preliminary discussions" with health insurance provider, Blue Cross "with the view of capitalising on the vast potential that Blue Cross possesses".

The concept he said was to promote health tourism - weight management, physical fitness, recovery from emotional depression, and stress management.

"With an increasing number of tourists in search of new experiences, the concept of the wellness hotel facility promises to add a new exhilarating and dynamic dimension to Jamaica's existing tourism offerings," said Hanna.

Hanna said that as part of their marketing tool, the principals were now discussing timeshare venture with an international entity, which was not named.

"Our relationships will create opportunities to grow strategically," the statement said. "We believe the tourist and travel industry will find the concept appealing and will seek to add the facility to their portfolio."

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