Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Pioneered by the legendary Abe Issa, each Couples Resorts is a model of the all-inclusive concept.- file

WESTERN BUREAU:

SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT in human-resources development and infrastructure improvements have placed Couples Resorts at the top, among the most prestigious hotels in the Caribbean, says Glenn Lawrence, Couples CEO.

His comments come in the wake of Couples Swept Away and Couples Negril being ranked numbers five and eight, respectively, by thousands of Travel + Leisure readers who selected the resorts as the Caribbean's finest all-inclusive during the magazine's 2008 'World's Best Award'.

Published 12 times a year, the Travel + Leisure magazine boasts over 4.8 million readers.

The Couples Resorts was also the only all-inclusive chain to place in the top 10 in the poll, while standing tall among the most prestigious 'Top 25' hotels in the Caribbean, Bermuda and The Bahamas.

spent lots of money

"An endorsement this magnitude from such a reputed magazine gives an edge in terms of how our resorts are projected in the tourist industry," Lawrence tells The Sunday Gleaner, adding that the results were expected after his organisation had spent "quite a bit of money" enhancing the skills of its workers, while placing special emphasis on the physical infrastructure of the resorts.

According to Lawrence, in the last two years, the company pumped US$10 million (J$720 million) into both areas, and is currently spending US$24 million (J$1.7 billion) to bring Couples Tower Isle in Ocho Rios into the league of the top 10 in the Caribbean.

guests' comments

This is the second year that Couples Resorts has been voted among the best by readers. In 2007, its Sans Souci property ranked 11 on the top-25 list, and Couples Negril ranked number one on the list of Top Hotel Spas in the Caribbean, Bermuda and The Bahamas.

"Our guests' comments are consistent, they speak of how our staff goes above and way beyond the expectations that they would normally get from a resort," says Lawrence.

Couples Resorts, headquartered in Montego Bay, Jamaica, owns and operates four properties in Jamaica - Couples Tower Isle, formally Couples Ocho Rios, the first couples-only all-inclusive resort; Couples Sans Souci; Couples Swept Away; and Couples Negril

Pioneered by the legendary Abe Issa, 'Father of Jamaican tourism', each Couples Resorts is a model of the all-inclusive concept, boldly designed with local inspiration to create a harmonic sense of nature and authentic Caribbean spirit.