The Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Hotel in St Ann says it is expending $150 million to upgrade the former Sunset Jamaica Grande into a five-star property.

And despite the hotel missing its April 11, 2015 completion date, following recent industrial unrest at the construction site, General Manager Clifton Reader said all is set for the grand opening to take place soon.

Reader and members of his team were addressing journalists at a press launch held at Evita’s Italian Restaurant in Ocho Rios, last week, to officially introduce the Mexican brand to Jamaica.

The Moon Palace Jamaica Grande is the first hotel in the Palace Resorts brand to open outside of Mexico.

When completed, the property will boast more than 700 guest rooms and suites with ocean-front views of the Caribbean Sea.

Extensive renovations at the former Sunset Jamaica Grande include modernising rooms, overhauling meeting spaces, upgrading and redesigns of the common areas, and upgrading of the restaurants.

And, although it is yet to open its doors locally, the Moon Palace has already expanded the Palace Foundation in Jamaica. The Palace Foundation is a non-profit organisation, created in 2004 by the directors of Palace Resorts to contribute to addressing social issues in the local community.

The organisation’s goal is to improve the lives of those most in need.

According to Reader, the Jamaican arm of the Foundation was started with $250,000. In addition, all furniture of the former property were sold and the money placed in the foundation.

The general manager also reported that all staff of the former property have been retained following the take over last September.

He announced that approximately 200 of these employees have gone to Mexico to experience the Moon Palace brand as a part of their training. Staff who have had to stay home are still being paid half of their salary, while others have been able to continue working and receiving their full salaries, according to Reader.