Photo by Janet Silvera
A satisfied-looking Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, converses with Caroline Racine, director of caribbean franchise development of Choice Hotels International, while he looks through her brochure on day one of the Jamaica Product Exchange now on at the Hilton Kingston hotel. Over 71 buyers and 275 supplier- delegates are attending the two-day trade show.

Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Sunday Gleaner has learnt that the Hendrickson family has bought Montego Bay's Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort for an undisclosed sum.

The 520-room resort, located in Rose Hall, is one of the city's oldest hotels. Its acquisition will bring the Hendrickson family's resort property portfolio to three, including the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites, and Knutsford Court in Kingston.

Operating under brand name

Highly placed sources who spoke with The Sunday Gleaner during the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), now on at the Hilton Kingston hotel, said that the purchase agreement allows the Montego Bay resort to continue operating under the Holiday Inn brand. The new owners have not yet taken possession of the property, said the source, "owing to the fact they are still pursuing due diligence, which will be done by the end of the year."

When the newspaper contacted Kevin Hendrickson, managing director of Courtleigh Hotel and Suites, he would not comment on the acquisition.

Aggressive inroads

The Hendrickson family has aggressively made inroads into the hospitality industry, with some of the members involved in the Sunset Resort Group of Companies, which has three hotels in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. Kevin's brother, Butch, operates the Coconut Bay in the eastern Caribbean island of St Lucia.

Outside of tourism, the Hendrickson family operates the popular Yummy and Holsum bakeries.

In the meantime, the management of the Hilton Kingston hotel yesterday declined to comment on reports that the hotel had been bought by Cayman businessman, Delroy Howell, operator of Quik Cash in Grand Cayman.

Taught to adapt

Howell, a Jamaican by birth, currently resides in the Cayman Islands, where he has excelled in the financial sector.

"Jamaica taught me how to adapt to any condition. Cayman has allowed me to achieve my goals," the businessman was quoted in a recent article on a Caymanian website.