Jamaica’s Half Moon to Unveil New Redevelopment in November

Coming in November 2018, Jamaica’s iconic Half Moon resort will unveil 20 acres of redeveloped property that will not only be “transformative” but also “reestablish” the brand in the Caribbean.

Speaking to media and travel agents at Toronto’s Spoke Club yesterday, Guy Steuart III, Chairman of Half Moon and grandson of one of the resort’s 17 original investors back in 1954, admitted that over the years “we’ve learned that we built too close to the beach.” With rising sea levels and the inevitability of beach erosion, the resort made the decision to scrape 200 acres of beachfront in order to set itself back 100 feet from the sea.

“This is a thoughtful development that’s well back from the beach,” said Steuart. “As a responsible enterprise, we want to be better stewards of the land.”

The transformation signifies Half Moon’s commitment to invest in the future of the resort – and the island – for generations to come. In 2015, Half Moon completed the first phase of its US$75 million Master Plan Renovation, which included the refurbishment of the award-winning Sugar Mill Restaurant, resort lobby, golf course and popular Lester’s Café.

Now in Phase Two, in addition to a reimagined beachfront, the resort will also debut a new entry, a Great House with 57 accommodations, a natural swimming cove once used for swimming with dolphins, an adults-only swimming pool, two restaurants, three bars, a market café and a vegan café located at the Fern Tree Spa.

“The resort is evolving so that the best of Half Moon will remain, and this constant evolution is the key to a luxury hospitality experience,” said Sandro Fabris, General Manager. “Half Moon’s new additions along with its architecture, landscape and design will reward a sense of discovery that elevates the resort experience and enables guests to rediscover our intimate paradise and singular hospitality.”

First opened in 1954, the resort has grown linearly since then, “about two miles on the beach”, said Steuart, and now encompasses 400 acres of “casual elegance”. With so much land, he added that “it’s not a concentrated place to be” but rather spread out to ensure privacy and relaxation. “In fact, we can be 80% full and you won’t even know it, that’s how spread out we are,” he said.

And when asked whether Half Moon was impacted at all by last year’s hurricanes, Steuart said the weather only made its beaches better.

“Jamaica is open for business, and so is Half Moon,” he said. “We’ve been in business for 65 years, and I’m hoping for another six decades.”

Source: Travelweek Group