Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

SuperClubs chairman, the Hon. John Issa (right) with Director of Tourism, Basil Smith (second right) and event and destination specialists Gene Harley (left) and wife Javonne Harley of Advantage International.

WESTERN BUREAU:

Topiaries adorned with roses, gladiolas and suspended strips of pearls echoed the sentiments that 30 years of changing the way millions travelled worldwide, deserved a monumental celebration.

Thursday night SuperClubs outdid itself as it culminated its 30th anniversary celebration in a grand gala affair at Grand Lido Resort in Negril.

As early as 6:30 p.m., the hotel chain's proud chairman John Issa, wife Aida and daughters Muna and Zein were welcoming guests to a poolside cocktail reception - prior to an evening of fine dining, top class performances, awards, exercise-induced dancing and remarkable conversation.

Orchids

Tying all the elements together, decorators Thai Flora created an elegant Garden of Eden, mixing areka palms and spathaphyllum within the surroundings. In special spaces pots of bramble with pink and purple orchids sprouted out at guests.

Beautifully adorned in white, Grand Lido Negril was a city of pepper lights draped with white tulle around its columns and main stage.

In the midst of the immense beauty Mr. Issa took time to reward the group of people who really keep his resorts alive. He and his management team presented the 'Superstar Awards for 2006' to their top producing tour operators and travel agents out of Europe, the United States and Canada.

Among the deserved were Thomson Holidays, Go-Go Worldwide Vacations, Expedia, My Travel Canada, Air Canada Vacations, Morrison Travel, Action Travel, Holiday Services and Virgin Holidays.

Coupled with the excitement of the evening was the gargantuan presentation of food prepared by a super team of three executive, five Sous and three pastry chefs, drawn from the various properties, delivering over 100 assortment of desserts, an exotic array of seafood stations, 20 different salads, 15 variety of cheeses with an authentic Jamaican panache. Having mastered the art of outdoing themselves, the super team pulled out superstars Georgia Henry; former lead singer of the Drifters, Ben E King and the indomitable A.J. Brown.

Guests glued

The lone female star Henry had guests glued to the dance floor and like her last song, Simply the Best that's exactly what she delivered.

This magic moment and Spanish Harlem welcomed the legendary Ben E. King to the stage as he sang hit after hit.

And when he asked if there was anybody in the audience from 1959, several hands went up, because they knew his next selection could only be There Goes My Baby, followed by Under The Boardwalk.

He was 'king' of the evening literally had the audience eating out of his hands, and when he tried to exit the stage, they called for more. However, when he eventually did, he made way for another master, the spirited A.J. Brown who brought some great reggae music into the mix.

Kudos are in order for Stuart Douglas and his SuperClubs team for pulling it off.