Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Aimed at maintaining a cutting-edge within the global tourism village, Couples Ocho Rios is to pump US$15 million (J$1.08 billion) into a massive refurbishing exercise later this year.

The announcement was made by the group's chief executive officer, Glenn Lawrence, at the company's 30th anniversary celebrations in Tower Isle, St. Mary, on Saturday night.

The 206-room resort will close for a period of four to eight months to carry out the exercise, and reopen in December for the 2008-2009 winter tourist season, vice-president of operations, Gary Stephens, told The Gleaner.

During the closure, the hotel's 310 staff will be paid their regular salary sans gratuity, Stephens emphasised, adding that the resort's staff will return to their respective positions once the hotel reopens.

State-of-the-art facilities

The facelift will see the construction of an additional three-floor complex of 20 rooms and four suites; refurbishing of the existing bars and main lobby and the creation of a spanking new swim-up pool bar and state-of-the-art spa.

On completion, the resort will boast 226 guest rooms.

The Elias 'Lee' Issa-led Couples Resorts owns and operates four luxury all-inclusive, couples-only resorts in Jamaica. The properties include Couples Ocho Rios, Couples Sans Souci, Couples Swept Away and Couples Negril, with a fifth resort, Couples Harmony Cove, on the horizon.