Anita Cotter, spokesperson for the Cliff Hotel which opened in Negril last week Tuesday, said that about US$3 million has been spent on upgrading the former Moon Dance Cliffs hotel by its new owners.

Located in West End, the boutique hotel comprises 33 suites in a main building and in four cottages. Renovation covered all suites, public areas, restaurant, bars and landscaping, Cotter disclosed.

The hotel’s owners are Mary Phillips with Avra Jain, Dalia Lagoa and Joseph Del Vacchio of Miami. Jain is linked to the Vagabond group brand which owns the Vagabond Hotel and other boutique properties in Miami.

Cotter noted, however, “The Cliff is a separate investment and is not marketed as part of the Vagabond Group. It has its own Jamaican sensibility.” Managing director is hospitality expert Mary Phillips, who was previously general manager at the Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios.

The resort sits on five acres. Cottages feature one, four and five bedrooms. Food and beverage reflects the work of Delius Shirley and partner Chef Cindy Hutson, operators of the Ortanique Restaurant in Coral Gables, who are at the helm of food and beverage operations at the resort.

It has also introduced a Ki’Yara Spa which is described as a “sanctuary for the mind and body, taking advantage of indigenous Jamaican ingredients, including botanicals and herbs”.

Phillips said in a company circular that the Cliff was “the perfect location” to realise her resort dream with co-investors who are real estate developers based in Miami.

She described the resort as “an exclusive hideaway offering high-quality experiences for those who want to escape the outside world and indulge”.