TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Stakeholders of the Riu Palace Aquarelle in Trelawny are elated over the overwhelming level of occupancy the property has enjoyed since it officially opened on May 4 and the strong bookings going into the summer.

Speaking to reporters on the property on Friday, Director of RIU sales in Jamaica, Niurka Garcia Linton noted that “bookings for the first three to four months have been amazing”.

“We are projecting for the summer to surpass 80 per cent of our occupancy. What we have already on the books and what we are expecting we are certain that if nothing unexpected happens, we are going to surpass the 80 per cent occupancy for this hotel,” said Garcia Linton.

In his reaction, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who congratulated Riu, noted that the sector is now enjoying a strong wave of arrivals resulting in some two million visitors for the first five months of the year, pumping some US$2billion into the economy over the period.

Garcia Linton attributes the strong showing at the seventh RIU resort in Jamaica to several factors.

“So there were a lot of expectations, having a family hotel that is also part of the Palace brand, only 35 minutes from the airport (Sangster’s International). So when that was announced, the market was absolutely excited about it, there was a lot of expectations about it. And also because of all the new things, the cutting-edge things that we were doing with this property, like swim-up pools, both on ground floor and second floor, being something that has never been done at Riu, which is a completely new concept that we are implementing here first,” she said.

“There were so many things that we were doing with this property that there was a lot excitement,” she added.

Garcia Linton added that the rates offered by Riu Aquarelle also factor in the strong lure to the property.

“The beach is absolutely amazing, we have 753 rooms and all the rooms from the balcony you can have a view. So it’s one of those hotels that you have an amazing view of the ocean, the newness of the concept as well, the design is also attracting a lot of our client; very competitive when it comes to rates within the concept — are all the reasons guests have been choosing Riu Aqurelle,” the head of Riu sales in Jamaica said.

“The design is very fresh, very modern, the colours are light and warm and give you the sensation of peace, calmness.

“The property during the day looks a particular way, in the day and in the evening, it takes a completely different atmosphere; it’s like two different hotels in one,” she added.

Garcia Linton noted that Riu enjoys a large number of local clientele, especially the Ocho Rios property, and expectations are that the Falmouth resort will also enjoy strong local support.

“Our number one property when it comes to local guests is Ocho Rios, the proximity to Kingston has always been one of the reasons, plus what the property has to offer, the food and beverage options, the Splash, the amenities for children,” Garcia Linton said.

“We have noticed that since there’s the highway, the Montego Bay areas have increased significantly in terms of the volume of the local market. The expectation for this property is to be very close to that of Ocho Rios. We are sure that it is going to become a favourite of the local market. It’s only 45 minutes from Ocho Rios. I am sure that it is totally worth the journey here to enjoy this property,” she added.

In 2021, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Bartlett, and then CEO of RIU Hotels Carmen RIU broke ground for construction of the resort.