DUNCANS, Trelawny — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has welcomed the announcement by Nexus Luxury Collection — developers of the US$1-billion Harmony Cove resort project in Trelawny — that it will introduce the premium sports bar T-Squared Social as part of its operation in Jamaica.

T-Squared Social, which was launched in New York City in 2023 by global icons Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods, is expected to play a key role in enhancing the island’s offerings for high-end corporate events. Timberlake and Woods are also shareholders in Nexus Luxury Collection.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting for the long-awaited mega development last Tuesday, managing partner of Nexus Luxury Collection, Christopher Anand, emphasised the significance of T-Squared Social amassing “1,200 corporate event relationships” since its launch.

“T-Squared wasn’t open two years ago. That matters, because one of our strategies is to bring major corporations to come to Jamaica and have corporate events here, especially in the off-peak season, a time like now. How could we get Pricewaterhouse or Bank of America, or a famous law firm to come here and do corporate retreats? That is a massive part of our business plan,” Anand said.

“I’m telling you, there aren’t many people who have 1,200 corporate relationships and that’s out of one location. We’re now opening in Scotland next month, we’re opening in Nashville, we’re opening in Toronto. These are all very important markets, and good markets for Jamaica,” added Anand.

In welcoming the announcement, Bartlett said Jamaica is well equipped to support ventures like T-Squared, which align with the upscale demographic now flowing into the island.

According to Bartlett, Jamaica’s unmatched airlift — with connections to every Caribbean island and growing interest from major Middle Eastern carriers — positions the country as a premier hub for luxury investments and corporate events.

“Bring the T-Squared and all the squares that you want, we have the capacity to enable them to make money and to leave wealth behind in Jamaica,” Bartlett said.

“But perhaps, Chris, what you need to hear most from me is not just the fact that we have today the strongest airlift arrangements in the entire Caribbean and, arguably, Latin America. Today, Jamaica is connected to every single island of the Caribbean, every single island. We have eight airlines that connect every single island and it puts us in a great position to be the hub for the big ones that I’m talking to, the Emirates and the Etienne [airline] and all those powerful GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) country airlines that are moving hundreds at the time, not 2000, but 3000 and 4000 moving on a weekly basis into our space,” added Bartlett.

He declared that the human capital development strategies that are being pursued in Jamaica are tailored now for the luxury tourism.

Harmony Cove tourism development project is being spearheaded by Harmonisation Limited, a Government-owned company comprising Development Bank of Jamaica Limited and the National Housing Trust.

Harmonisation Limited is working on the development with Tavistock Jamaica Inc, a subsidiary of global private investment company Tavistock Group.

Nexus Luxury Collection is Tavistock Group’s international hospitality real estate development and asset management company.

According to its website, it “builds and operates an array of luxury resort and club assets and experiences around the world”.

Located in Trelawny, the 2,300-acre Harmony Cove will be home to a resort that includes several world-class golf courses, a luxury spa, marina facilities, commercial developments, luxury hotels, private residencies, and other amenities. It will also include a casino, convention and entertainment centres, and restaurants.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett addressing the ribbon cutting for Harmony Cove resort development in Trelawny. (Photo: Philp Lemonte)