Q & A with Niurka GarciaSales Manager at Hedonism III, Jamaica´s Negril

by Jose Carlos de Santiago

The concept wielded by SuperClubs Hotels & Resorts for this kind of establishment stands up for the principle of giving guests the highest level of enjoyment money can buy. No remorse, no limitations. Period. And it has paid off as years roll by. Even some customers have become repeat guests at Hedonism III –some of them as high as 85 times. The hotel´s sales manager Niurka Garcia speaks about these issues in an exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital.

Q.- How long have you been in Jamaica?

A.- Seven years.

Q.- What do you do at Hedonism III?

A.- I´m in charge of sales and marketing policies all year long. I stay in close touch with travel agents and wholesalers in an effort to keep them posted on what the hotel is doing, its renovations and initiatives. I also have to do with visiting groups.

Q.- What´s hedonism all about in the first place?

A.- Hedonism is a totally different way of doing tourism. Guests at hedonism resorts have to be 18 years old because guests feel free to do whatever he or she wants during his or her stay. To us, hedonism is sort of a magic box that enriches your mind, your body and your spirit the moment you open it up. After spending a weeklong stay in one of our resorts, you start looking at the world from a brand-new perspective. You´re going to sport a lovely tan, have a laidback attitude and show an ear-to-ear smile all the time. There´re no exact words to describe what this concept is actually all about. It´s simply something you have to enjoy to know what it´s like. It´s like living a real life in paradise.

Q.- When did your hotels have its grand opening?

A.- The hotel opened in 1976 under the name of Negril Beach Village. I then dropped that name to be called Hedonism II back in 1981. the Hedonism II in Jamaica´s Negril is the resort with the largest number of repeat guests in the entire Caribbean. Some guests have checked in and out over 85 times. Six years ago, we opened the Hedonism III in Runaway Bay featuring the same concept of the Hedonism II.

Q.- What are the main features of your hotel?

A.- Hedonism II has 280 rooms and is al all-inclusive lodging. We have four restaurants serving Jamaica, Italian and Japanese food, as well as international cuisine at the smorgasbord. There are five bars serving the finest drinks and liquors. Other amenities are water sports –including scuba diving- transfer to and from the airport. All these services are included and tips and banned.

There are nude beaches and regular beaches. The nude beaches have 150 rooms, four swimming pools, plus a grill and a bar. The regular beaches –for non nudists- feature 130 rooms, a swim-up bar and even a billiards table to shoot pool at the pool, if you get my drift.

There are also half a dozen tennis courts, a couple of squash courts and other areas for playing badminton, basketball, rock climbing, a gym and a spa.

Hedonism III feature similar characteristics. The hotel was built six years ago and its rooms are larger. All bathrooms are equipped with Jacuzzis. There are also nude and non-nude beaches. Restaurants and other facilities are similar to those at Hedonism II.

Q.- Do you plan some kinds of events at these hotels?

A.- We hold fashion shows, tennis and squash tournaments, as well as exotic dance contests. There´s a number of Caribbean-style parties, weeklong celebrations and stuff like that, always with a view to praise the wellbeing of both the mind and soul.

Q.- What about the rooms? Are they interconnected?

A.- No.

Q.- Do guests stay too long in the rooms?

A.- Not really. They spend most of the day doing activities outside their rooms.