MONTEGO BAY, St James — The architects of Jamaica’s largest integrated tourism real estate development, the Keith and Paula Russell led Amaterra Jamaica Group, have entered into a hotel management operator agreement with award-winning global travel company, Marriott International. 

The partnership will allow Marriott to further expand its all-inclusive portfolio in popular, leisure destinations worldwide and bring the first Marriott Hotels branded all-inclusive property to Jamaica.

Amaterra’s 800-room flagship development will be located 25 miles east of Sangster International Airport on the island’s north coast and is set on two miles of white sand beach.

Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020 and completed in 2022.

The official signing took place yesterday evening in Montego Bay, Jamaica in the presence of Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Industry Minister, Audley Shaw, JAMPRO President Diane Edwards and Jampro Board Directors Delano Seiveright and Ian Levy. 

Bartlett, noted that the development forms a key part of the, “largest expansion of hotel room stock in Jamaica’s history representing the most powerful week in investment developments for the tourism industry, with the Marriot’s entry being a major step in the right direction.”

The minister also listed an array on initiatives already bearing fruit in deepening linkages, broadening human capital development for tourism workers and spreading the benefits of tourism further afield.

Commenting on the partnership with Marriott International, Amaterra Group, Chairman Keith Russell noted: “The Amaterra Group is excited to welcome Marriott International as our Hotel Management Operator. The Marriott brand is internationally renowned and well respected and we couldn’t be happier to have them on board and be one of their first all-inclusive properties globally. This is a great step not only for Amaterra but also the Jamaican tourism industry and we look forward to partnering with Marriott’s other iconic brands as we go forward.”

Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America remarked: “We are thrilled to partner with Amaterra on this exciting project.  Jamaica is a key destination for our new All-Inclusive brand extensions. We are pleased to start off with a flagship Marriott All-Inclusive resort project and confident that Amaterra has the vision to bring it to life on the island.”