MONTEGO BAY, St James — Island Entertainment Brands (IEB) has announced that construction for a 17,000 square- foot facility to house Margaritaville Famouth will get under way within the next five weeks at the Falmouth Cruise Shipping Pier, as part of the company’s massive expansion programme.

” It will be one heck of a pirate ship with a pool, a water slide, a zip line feature and Jacuzzi, to mention a few of the features right there on the Falmouth dock,” said IEB CEO Ian Dear of the project which is expected to cost roughly US$ 7 million.

He was speaking at the IEB’s Annual Awards ceremony held at the Secrets Resorts and Spa in Montego Bay last Friday.

Dear later told the Observer West that Margaritaville Falmouth will be one of the most innovate facility that the company has ever created.

” We are going to provide a level of experience there that people have never seen before at any of our locations,” the IEB CEO stressed.

IEB currently has 27 multi-faceted venues — including seven Margaritavilles — across Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Grand Turk, employing close to 1,000 persons.

Earlier, Dear told the awardees that the future of the company remains “very exciting for further growth.”

“We expect to invest approximately US$10 million to support our growth plans in the short term. However, as soon as we execute all of current plans, we will then focus on developing a new location in an island each year for the next three to five years,” he said.

He added that by the end of the first quarter of 2013 the number of venues operated by IEB should increase to 48.

He emphasised that the company will continue to train and develop team members with considerable investment in cutting edge programmes, technology, systems and equipment.

” Some of the exciting things that will happen over the next year will be IPad menus, video walls, hologram technology, and the latest and most innovative equipment technology for our bars and kitchens. All are extremely exciting things that will translate into providing our team and guests with improved service, efficiencies and experiences,” Dear explained.

In congratulation the awardees, the IEB CEO urged them to continue to give of their best, as he lauded accountant Kean Henry who is retiring after serving the company for 15 years.

Those awarded were:

* Eddington Moncrieffe, who was adjudged the employee for the year at Margaritaville Montego Bay;

* Veronica Baker, employee of the year for Air Margaritaville;

*Phillip James, employee of the year Margaritaville Negril;

*Ian West employee of the year, Margaritaville Ocho Rios;

*Barbara Virano, employee of the year Margaritaville Grand Cayman;

*Ethlyn Gayle, Mamager of the year IEB;

*Cecil Jagdath chef of the year;

*Anthony Hewie, general manager of the year, IEB;

* Dahron Irving support person of the year, IEB.

Margaritaville Ocho Rios was named top retail location of the year.

Island Entertainment Brands began operations about 17 years ago with Marguerites Seafood By the Sea in Montego Bay.