Q & A with Jamahl Simmons, PR Manager at Fairmont Southampton Spa & Resort

Q & A with Jamahl Simmons
PR Manager at Fairmont Southampton Spa & Resort
By Yndiana Montes

We met Jamalh Simmons at Caribbean Week of CTO last year, when he was the Press Secretary for the Premier of Bermuda at that time, Dr. Ewart Brown.  Immediately, we click, and it was good news to find out that he would be around at the Sustainable Tourism Conference that was going to be held in the Fairmont Southampton on April 2011, as he was the new Public Relations Manager of this amazing property. Even with our crazy schedules we found time to drive around, take pictures, and to talk about Bermuda and of course, the Fairmont Southampton.

We also could experience the spa!

No doubt that the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Southampton is one of the most exclusive resort spas in Bermuda and The Caribbean.

Attending an all day tightly scheduled conference can be tiring and stressful, but the thought of entering the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Southampton immediately puts the mind at rest.  The Willow Stream Spa is where the atmosphere embodies the colors, scents, sounds and the feel of the island, soothing the mind and the body, an experience the body will remember.  You might be surprised by finding another “delegate” that had the same idea…

It’s a great idea…The Willow Stream Spa facility encompasses 31,000 square feet and includes 15 treatment rooms where treatments can be customized and tailored to heighten the spa experience.  It’s like a tropical oasis!  The spa offers a variety of invigorating and relaxing treatments to help synchronize the mind, body and spirit.  Using natural elements from the sea and land, Willow Stream treatments heal, hydrate and revitalize.
 
Guests can experience a relaxing massage with rose flower oil or a rejuvenating mineral wrap either alone or as a couple.  A dry sauna, steam room, inhalation and an indoor swimming pool surrounded by gardens and waterfalls further pampers your body. This reprieve from the daily stressors can be ameliorated by a short visit to the Fairmont Southampton.

This eco-friendly hotel utilizes tiered rooftops made of native limestone to capture rainwater for conservation in under house tanks.  
 
Q: You are new in this position. Can you tell us about your background?
A: I started in this position on March 21, 2011. My last position was Press Secretary for the Premier of Bermuda, Dr. Brown, the former premier of Bermuda, and before that I was a Member of Parliament, so most of my experience has been in the political arena. Now this is just another way of serving the country because tourism is really one of our major economic pillars and the opportunity to show the world what a wonderful place Bermuda is, what magnificent facilities we have at the Fairmont Southampton, is truly our honor.

Q: Where did you complete your education?
A: At Howard University, in Washington DC. My degree is in Bachelor of Arts and Political Sciences and Washington DC is one of my favorite places to travel. I love it and it’s one of my many homes around the world.

Q: Did you work in radio or TV, covering events?
A: Oh, yes. For a number of years I was a broadcast journalist with an affiliate of CBS Radio & Television, and before that I was a sports personality for BSP, which is an NBC affiliate down here.

Q: How old are you?
A: I’m 40, just turned 40 in January.

Q: Now that you’re more involved in the tourist sector, would you like to continue in the sector?
A: Yes, I love it. What’s exciting about the tourism industry is that, for instance, when people visit Bermuda they say, “Wow, you live so near the water, you have all these beautiful flowers.” But if you live here for a long time, you take all those things for granted. Visitors are able to see the friendliness and the beauty of this country, the friendliness of the people. To see it through someone else’s eyes is refreshing and it makes living here a whole lot more enjoyable.

Q: What would be a transfer for Fairmont Southampton in the winter season? I’m asking you because I’ve seen that most of the properties down here in Bermuda close down in winter. Is that right?
A: Yes, some do, but Fairmont Southampton does pretty well during the winter months, like golf and spa, which are the facilities that we have. But the Well & Spring Spa is a great getaway for someone, particularly for those living on the East Coast of the U.S. You’re able to come down, have a spa weekend with some of the fantastic offerings and facilities we have. And if you’re a golfer, well for many golfers weather is not an issue because they can golf in any weather. We’ve got a fantastic par-3 course right at the hotel. You can literally step outside of the door and you’re there. As Bermuda’s only resort, this is amazing because you can stay on the ground. As beautiful and fantastic as the country is, you can use a weekend at the Fairmont Southampton to tee off in Bermuda, and you can come when the weather is better.

Q: If you were to hit the road to sell the Fairmont Southampton, what would you say?
A: First of all, that here in Bermuda this is premium facility in terms of the variety of restaurants, like the Ocean Club that dishes out a fantastic array of seafood or the Italian restaurants. And all that much is packed in only one facility. You have the Well & Spring Spa where you can have a variety of massages, facials and different treatments that can cover any need or desire. You have the tennis courts, we have the beach; we have so many things in one place, which is pretty unusual because not most of the facilities don’t have that much in one place.

Q: Why has this spa at Fairmont Southampton been so successful?
What we have basically done at Fairmont Southampton is an attempt to offer our guests a variety of services and products. As you’ve probably noticed, many of our guests have different dietary needs, different dietary requirements. So, we offer them macrobiotic menus, we offer gluten-free, vegetarian life, a wide range that meets almost any requirement.

Q: In terms of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events), do you count on proper facilities?
A: Oh, yes definitely. Between the Mid Ocean Amphitheater, which is one of the largest facilities you can get in the region, as well as the Gardenia Rooms, we have meeting rooms, we have a wide range of products for anyone who’s holding his or her meeting in Bermuda. I think the convenient location close to the East Coast, the ease of travel, the safety of Bermuda and the competitive offers that we have in terms of pricing, are very, very attractive to people looking to conduct meetings, business and group travel outside the United States.

Q: Talking about competition, I guess that’s one of the biggest issues Bermuda has. What do you do to be more competitive?
A: First of all, I think we really have to make sure that people know what we are and who we are. Establish ourselves in the marketplace as an individual brand and then work hard on what we’re really good at, and that is customer service. If you traveled around Bermuda, Bermudians, I would argue, are the friendliest and most helpful people in the world, and they really enjoy having tourists. Tourists are not just tourists; they are guests. We view this as our home and you’re like a guest in our home. They really go the extra mile to make Bermuda appealing and attractive.