Spanish Court Montego Bay to open summer 2017 after US$12.5-m upgrade
Renovation is slated to begin this month at Spanish Court Montego Bay, the former Breezes Montego Bay Hotel which sits on the beachfront along Gloucester Avenue, in the north coast city.
Crissa Group, the company which also owns sister hotel Spanish Court Kingston, has indicated that opening date is planned for summer 2017.
The Jamaica Observer understands that the Montego Bay property, that was acquired from owners the National Insurance Fund (NIF) and NCB Pension Fund for US$7.5 million, will be renovated at an estimated cost of US$12.5 million which, at current exchange rates, represents a total investment of $2.5 billion.
Spanish Court Montego Bay will feature 120 rooms, down from the current 124.
Crissa said the property designer is award-winning Allison Antrobus, a Jamaican with the firm Antrobus Ramirez, which specialises in luxury design and also did the work on public space at the sister hotel in Kingston.
Of the 120 rooms planned, most will have ocean views with ‘grand spa’ bathrooms featuring roman tubs and specially designed sauna-shaped showers.
The owners plan to leverage the mystique of the world-famous Doctor’s Cave Beach which sits next door.
The hotel will feature a rooftop bar with views of the beach. The list of cocktails will include a special one named, ‘Just What the Doctor Ordered’.
Other planned features include a cafe, two restaurants, a spa, gym, pool and an outdoor bar.
The style has been described as ‘cutting edge with just the right amount of irie’.
The target market is everyone, Crissa indicated. Room rates will start at US$175 per night per person, breakfast included. All-inclusive and suite rates are different.
The 2017 opening will bring to an end seven years of closure. The hotel was previously operated by SuperClubs which shuttered the property in 2009.
Chris Issa, owner of Spanish Court Kingston, started negotiating for the property in 2012. Agreement was reached in 2015.
The hotel was built by NCB Investments in 1995. It was co-owned by NCB Staff Pension Fund. The NIF later acquired a 49 per cent interest for $271 million. The previous owners owned the hotel through Resorts Beach Development Limited.
Placed on the market in 2011, the valuation was reported at US$14.32 million.
