HANOVER, Jamaica — Aptly themed: ‘Sensationalising Your Senses’, Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril recently hosted an exclusive, mouth-watering dining experience for members of its loyalty programme.

According to a release from Riu Hotels, the event transformed the hotel’s Krystal Signature Restaurant into a stage for culinary artistry. Guests savoured a seven-course menu, each dish paired with wines and spirits curated by Select Brands.

“This is something we’ve never done before,” explained Niurka Garcia Linton, Riu Hotels’ director of sales in Jamaica.

“We wanted to tease the senses — smell, taste, touch, sound, sight — and give our guests a night that was truly unforgettable,” she added.

The menu featured a crisp, fragrant jerk chicken spring roll; rich, melt-in-the-mouth deboned oxtail; and a creamy breadfruit risotto with a Caribbean twist on comfort food, finishing with golden churros — a nod to Riu’s Spanish roots. Select Brands elevated each course with cocktails and fine wines.

The evening celebrated both loyalty and fine dining.

The invitation-only guest list included diamond-level members of the Riu Partner Club, a programme that rewards repeat visitors with points, perks, and birthday treats.

Among them was Natia Turkadze, a Georgian native now living in the United States, who has returned to Riu Palace Tropical Bay 25 times, often staying for three weeks at a stretch.

“It was such a pleasure,” Turkadze said.

“The invitation was so unexpected — so warm, so beautiful, so friendly. It made me feel truly special.”