ONCE you enter a room at Sandals or Beaches Negril, chances are it is the first thing that greets you. Whether it is a swan, crocodile, turtle, or even an elephant strewn across the bed with a welcome message beautifully written in flower petals, one glance and your heart begins to melt. It is the luxury-included resorts’ towel folding designs, which are highly praised in many guest reviews.

For Wisconsin resident Beth Ziereis who just completed her first visit to a Sandals resort, seeing the exquisitely decorated towel art was a delight.

“It made me feel so special to know that someone took the time and effort to put this together just for me,” she said. “It’s the little things like these that make me feel truly welcome and make me want to return! I’ll definitely be back to Jamaica!”

Mary and Jim Brown, Beaches Negril returning guests who hail from Long Island, New York, said this is their fifth time on the island and one of the things they always look forward to is the towel designs in their room. “Every time we come here we feel like we’ve entered heaven. The talent of the housekeepers is tremendous and blows us away and the kids get so excited when they see the towel animals on the bed,” shared the parents of two.

Amy Grauer, who celebrated her birthday while vacationing at Sandals Negril recently, received a birthday surprise when she found a three-tiered towel-designed birthday cake on her bed.

“It was absolutely amazing to come to my room and see what my housekeeper, Keleine, had done for me. It goes to show how attentive they are to every detail, not only as it relates to the room but also to the guests who occupy these rooms,” shared Grauer.

Given the growing interest in towel-folding among guests, Sandals Negril Executive Housekeeper Derwin Tomlinson recently introduced weekly design classes.

Ziereis, who attended one of the sessions, was elated for the opportunity to learn.

“It’s good that Sandals has these classes so we’re able to recreate the magic when we go back home,” she said.

Beaches Negril Executive Housekeeper Novelette Whyte said a special ‘wow set-up’ is done for guests celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or honeymoons. The resort also has weekly competitions for its housekeeping team members with first and second place winners receiving prizes.

Last year, Sandals Negril hosted a towel-folding competition with several housekeepers contending for the top position. In the end, it was 29-year-old housekeeper Kenroy Andrews whose ‘rabbits and swans’ masterpiece earned him the victory in the inaugural competition. Andrews, who sometimes conducts the towel-folding classes at the hotel, notes that he goes a step further and does online research to ensure his designs are top-notch.

“I want my towel designs to be out of the ordinary, so I do my research and get new ideas so I can always wow the guests,” he shared.

Tomlinson noted that while the towel designs are not mandatory, they do offer an added opportunity for the housekeepers to leave an impact on the guests.

“Many of the housekeepers see it as a chance to connect with the guests and show their appreciation for them having chosen this resort, so they will go beyond their duties to ensure the room is enhanced through these designs and the guests love it!”