ADVANCED occupancy bookings for short-term rentals at 138 Student Living, located on the Mona campus of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), are averaging 75 per cent for the summer.

According to Karelle McCormack, public relations and marketing manager at 138 Student Living, about 72 rooms at the Gerald Lalor complex and three floors at the George Alleyne Hall are available for short-term rentals this year, up until the first week in August. At that time the rooms at George Alleyne Hall will be vacated for clean-up and maintenance in preparation for long-term students. However, the duration of the short-term occupants is more flexible at the Gerald Lalor Flats, depending on booking dates.

For the summer the rooms on offer at Gerald Lalor Flats are located across 18 flats situated at three buildings. Each flat at Gerald Lalor Flats contains fully furnished four bedrooms – with a choice of air-conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, housekeeping services and linen, a common combined living and dining area, and kitchenette.

The George Alleyne Hall is primarily used for long-term student accommodation, however during the summer the rooms are available for short-term bookings. Guests at both properties have access to free Wi-Fi, coin-operated laundromat, shuttle service, and a food commissary.

“Our guests have a sense of security while staying at 138 Student Living as our recently installed technological security systems provide added layers of security for them. These systems are complemented by a 24-hour gate security which is monitored 24 hours a day,” McCormack said.

The 138 Student Living manager said the facility on The UWI, Mona campus has remained the accommodation of choice throughout the years for short-term bookings by individuals as well as local and international sports and church groups, together with representatives from private and government entities doing business on the island.

The sporting groups who are regular guests at 138 Student Living are participants in the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships and INSPORT Primary School Championships. Other recent guests were members of the Brazil, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago hockey teams who participated in the Jamaica Hockey Federation Hockey 5s tournament. Additionally, bookings have been received from the Jamaica Fire Brigade; GraceKennedy Foundation; members of the Racers’ Track Club (long term, short term); the Guyana and US rugby teams who will be participating in the upcoming Rugby Americas North (RAN) Under-19s Men’s and Senior Women’s 15s Tournament; JBDC; PICA; Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington, among others.

“We find that sporting groups are quite comfortable staying with us, especially as the accommodations are close to the National Stadium and UWI Mona Bowl training facilities. We are also a preferred location for private companies and government agencies,” she continued.

McCormack noted that with the passage of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a rebound in bookings from groups, while short-term stays have remained consistent throughout the year at the Gerald Lalor Flats.