Yes it was possible to get a good row in at the annual global meeting of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Hydrow, a privately-owned company based in Boston MA, was one of the Preferred partners exhibiting at the market place that preceded the official opening cocktail of the event, held this year at HALF MOON ROSE HALL, Jamaica – which, obviously, is a Preferred hotel. Among other exhibitors at marketplace was France24, but nobody can persuade Girlahead to divert from BBC World. Sabre explained that it can now offer AI-induced retail to hotel guests. On a guest ‘key’ stand it was explained that if a plastic credit-card-look key is 100%, add 20% for a wood or recycled key card but 60% for a plastic bracelet with inset ‘card’.
Half Moon has been transformed since Girlahead’s last visit, in 2016 (she was in 110sm suite #78, apparently a favourite of the 400-acre resort’s Chairman, realtor Guy Steuart III. That visit, the very capable Shernette Crichton was Director of Operations. Now she is the very capable GM of a resort that has doubled in size over the last five years: the $75m spend has included a second full-scale ‘Great House’, Eclipse, and numerous additional two-floor palest-green mansions of rooms and suites. To show how capable she is, she is current Caribbean hotelier of the year.
Room 5033, about 57sq m total, is downstairs in one of these new Eclipse blocks. The two Queen-size beds, with heavy pillars and cane headboards, look through French windows to grass and, 20m ahead, the ocean. The room is practical, with a five-blade fan hanging from the white plantation ceiling. The bathroom has two sinks, indoor and outdoor showers, and more than ample storage. The coffee maker is Proctor Silex, the toiletries are Fern Tree, spa brand of management company Salamander Hotels. WiFi is excellent (and BBC World is Channel 15 on the Samsung). TO BE CONTINUED
