NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Ahead of its highly anticipated August 25 reopening, Royalton Negril has staged a two-day job fair as it moves to add more than 500 workers to a core team of 122 staff members who have been maintaining the property since Hurricane Melissa forced its closure.

The recruitment drive, held on July 7 and 8, saw an overwhelming response from job seekers eager to get back into the tourism sector. On the first day, approximately 300 candidates descended on the hotel with interviews symbolically done on the same section of the property that provided shelter for 100 staff and 800 guests who were there during the storm. Another 400 applicants who registered via the resort’s application portal were expected for the second day of the job fair.

When the Category 5 storm battered sections of Jamaica last October, leaving millions of dollars in structural damage in its wake, operators of the 573-room resort were faced with the difficult but necessary task of laying off approximately 500 employees. Now, with the reopening date fast approaching and robust booking numbers, management is moving swiftly to rebuild and expand its workforce.

General Manager Mario Davalos expressed optimism about the turnout and noted that the sheer volume of applicants was a pleasant surprise for management.

Kemar Grant, who attended the Royalton Negril job fair, is hoping he will have a new job in August.(Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)

“Of course, we are looking for all those who were with us to rejoin the team,” Davalos told the Jamaica Observer. “I know that they have been struggling through different things and some of them went to different options. The turnout for the job fair has been spectacular; it surprised everyone.”

Davalos emphasised that the recruitment drive is less about merely filling slots and more about restoring the high-calibre hospitality that defines the Royalton brand.

“For us, securing the right talent is essential for guaranteeing operational expanse and ensuring our premier service standards from day one,” he said. “Our goals go beyond filling positions; we are dedicated to welcoming passionate individuals and providing them with a solid platform for long-term career and professional development.”

Driven by a desire to work with a hospitality brand she has long admired, Nicola Largie shared that her decision to attend the job fair was fuelled by years of positive interaction with resort staff. Having previously worked in the hotel industry, she frequently communicated with some of them for reservations.

General Manager of Royalton Negril, Mario Davalos, expressed immense optimism about the turnout for the job fair, noting that the sheer volume of applicants was a pleasant surprise for management.(Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)

According to Largie, she has “heard nothing but great things about them”. The welcoming air and seamless organisation of the recruitment fair reinforced that stellar reputation.

Contrasting it with less organised events she has attended in the past, Largie praised the attentive, step-by-step guidance provided by Royalton staff, noting that the smooth process and constant check-ins made for a genuinely great experience.

Behind her professional drive, however, lies a resilient journey of recovery in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. Like many in the region, Largie’s life was upended by the storm’s devastation, which ultimately led to her losing her job. The sudden job loss and subsequent search for employment brought unprecedented emotional and financial strain for the mother striving to put her 22-year-old son through University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica.

“Hurricane Melissa never deal with me good,” Largie shared with the Observer. “It’s really rough. I’m still trying to recover. I was working, but because of Melissa, I’m out of a job. I’ve been seeking employment since. I’ve always been working. So, experiencing this now, like, even depression hit me one time.”

Nicola Largie praising Royalton Negril job fair as a genuinely great experience in stark contrast to others she has attended in the past.(Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)

For candidates like her the supportive atmosphere and employment opportunities at the job fair represent a crucial beacon of hope for her family’s future.

It was also an opportunity for others, like Westmoreland resident Kemar Grant, who has never worked in the hotel industry before.

“The economy is moving forward, everything is being raised. So I decided to raise my values and morals as well, and come out to look for an opportunity at a five-star organisation so I can further my experience in the workforce,” Grant explained.

“I am looking for a five-star experience, and I’ve heard gracious comments over the years regarding Royalton, so I’m coming to see for myself if the experience is as gracious as the comments,” he added.

People and Culture Director at Royalton Negril, Lanuoy Franklin-Morris (left) in the process of interviewing a candidate during the recent job fair. (Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)

Although he faced an early setback when he had to head back into town for missing paperwork, his determination paid off and he was able to get processed.

“So far, it’s very welcoming. I love the customer service. They have been kind and very straightforward with the process,” Grant told the Observer.

If hired, he and the rest of the Royalton team will, according to the general manager, provide guests with an elevated experience. The hurricane damage ultimately served as a catalyst for a massive financial injection into Royalton Negril.

“Over the past few months, we have been working tirelessly. We have made some very visible changes to our property,” Davalos shared.

“Guests can expect very wide gastronomic options. In bringing up the property to operation we have upgraded infrastructure, and there are going to be many, many changes when our guests arrive,” he added.

The upgrades appear to already be paying off in consumer confidence. Management revealed that Royalton Negril has already secured more than 60 per cent bookings ahead of its August 25 ribbon-cutting.

The 500-strong hiring surge currently underway is only the first phase of the resort’s employment plans. Management indicated that an additional cohort of seasonal workers will be on-boarded to meet demands for the winter peak season, which officially kicks off in October.

“The guests who are coming to us for the first time will have the best impression of Royalton, and of Jamaica,” said a confident Davalos.

Resident Manager at Royalton Negril, Alvan Anderson, is ready for the reopening on August 25. (Photo: Rosalee Wood Condell)