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Grand Palladium gets casino nod - Groundbreaking next year
Published: Sunday | October 30, 2011 0 Comments
Hotel manager Dimitri Kosvogiannis (centre) having a good time with models from Harmony Models Management who were among the party guests at the Bleu party during Heroes' weekend celebrations. From left: Regina Harding, Jamela Geddes, Ava Campbell, Vanessa Evans, Renee Parchment and Roxanne Lewis.- Contributed
STILL BASKING in its exciting Bleu party [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]weekend[/COLOR][/COLOR] recently, the fabulous four-star Grand [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Palladium[/COLOR][/COLOR] Suites & Spa Hotel and its sister [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]resort[/COLOR][/COLOR] Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, located at Point in Lucea, is set to break ground for the island's biggest casino - Las Vegas style, according to hotel manager Dimitri Kosvogiannis."Plans are well in advance for this full-scale casino right here on property. I am presently in discussion with a major US entity to partner with us in this venture," Kosvogiannis told The Sunday Gleaner.
Ground will be broken early next year, revealed the hotel's general manager, who is also presently in negotiations with Denis Lalor, chairman of the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of industry, investment and commerce, and JAMPRO.
In 2010, following a legislative process, the Casino legislation was passed in Parliament and Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, indicated that the Government was expected to award the first casino licence that year, and that construction on Jamaica's first casino was expected to commence by that yearend as well.
first licence
Plans seem to be well advanced for The Fiesta Group of Hotels to be awarded the first licence.
Casino gambling in [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Jamaica[/COLOR][/COLOR] remains a divided issue. A Don Anderson poll in 2010 on gambling found that Jamaicans are sharply divided on this controversial issue, with the majority of persons surveyed not in favour of it.
However, Kosvogiannis cites many benefits of this venture, both for the local economy and for the hotel.
The idea to set up a full-fledged casino is in keeping with the Fiesta Group of Hotels' philosophy of diversifying its product offerings.
"At Grand Palladium, you have the choice to disconnect, mingle, party, stay on the quiet side or simply do nothing.
"Also, think about the many more persons we will be hiring as we diversify and expand?" he added.
Fitzroy Lyons, head chef at the resort, has his hands full almost all year round as the hotel enjoys exceptional occupancy levels.
"Right now, the hotel is enjoying one hundred per cent occupancy" and about 70 per cent are local guests, he said commenting on the hotel's just-concluded special weekend rates for Jamaicans.
"I am leaving now, but wish I could stay, but I have to go to work," said Marva Robinson while checking out.
She is among the hundreds of guests who partied for an entire weekend at what was dubbed "the first hotel party" by Bleu party organiser Phillip Palmer.
"It was awesome. Next year, it will be bigger and better," he said.
The all-inclusive Grand Palladium Suites boasts 444 air-conditioned guestrooms, and features private [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]beaches[/COLOR][/COLOR], 11 restaurants, a swim-up bar, a poolside bar, and a host of recreational amenities.
Commenting on the size of the sprawling hotel, the biggest in Jamaica, the general manager said it is all part of Fiesta's going large philosophy.
"It boils down to economics and tradition. A property this size can easily reap economies of scale, the operational cost is less than a hotel half this size so the return on investment is exponential. Traditionally, the Fiesta Group builds big resorts," the GM said, adding that Grand Palladium Suites & Spa Hotel Jamaica is doing very well.
"Jamaica is a primary destination in the Caribbean. It provides the airlift, infrastructure and it is English-speaking," said Kosvogiannis.
Published: Sunday | October 30, 2011 0 Comments
Hotel manager Dimitri Kosvogiannis (centre) having a good time with models from Harmony Models Management who were among the party guests at the Bleu party during Heroes' weekend celebrations. From left: Regina Harding, Jamela Geddes, Ava Campbell, Vanessa Evans, Renee Parchment and Roxanne Lewis.- Contributed
STILL BASKING in its exciting Bleu party [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]weekend[/COLOR][/COLOR] recently, the fabulous four-star Grand [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Palladium[/COLOR][/COLOR] Suites & Spa Hotel and its sister [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]resort[/COLOR][/COLOR] Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, located at Point in Lucea, is set to break ground for the island's biggest casino - Las Vegas style, according to hotel manager Dimitri Kosvogiannis."Plans are well in advance for this full-scale casino right here on property. I am presently in discussion with a major US entity to partner with us in this venture," Kosvogiannis told The Sunday Gleaner.
Ground will be broken early next year, revealed the hotel's general manager, who is also presently in negotiations with Denis Lalor, chairman of the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of industry, investment and commerce, and JAMPRO.
In 2010, following a legislative process, the Casino legislation was passed in Parliament and Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, indicated that the Government was expected to award the first casino licence that year, and that construction on Jamaica's first casino was expected to commence by that yearend as well.
first licence
Plans seem to be well advanced for The Fiesta Group of Hotels to be awarded the first licence.
Casino gambling in [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Jamaica[/COLOR][/COLOR] remains a divided issue. A Don Anderson poll in 2010 on gambling found that Jamaicans are sharply divided on this controversial issue, with the majority of persons surveyed not in favour of it.
However, Kosvogiannis cites many benefits of this venture, both for the local economy and for the hotel.
The idea to set up a full-fledged casino is in keeping with the Fiesta Group of Hotels' philosophy of diversifying its product offerings.
"At Grand Palladium, you have the choice to disconnect, mingle, party, stay on the quiet side or simply do nothing.
"Also, think about the many more persons we will be hiring as we diversify and expand?" he added.
Fitzroy Lyons, head chef at the resort, has his hands full almost all year round as the hotel enjoys exceptional occupancy levels.
"Right now, the hotel is enjoying one hundred per cent occupancy" and about 70 per cent are local guests, he said commenting on the hotel's just-concluded special weekend rates for Jamaicans.
"I am leaving now, but wish I could stay, but I have to go to work," said Marva Robinson while checking out.
She is among the hundreds of guests who partied for an entire weekend at what was dubbed "the first hotel party" by Bleu party organiser Phillip Palmer.
"It was awesome. Next year, it will be bigger and better," he said.
The all-inclusive Grand Palladium Suites boasts 444 air-conditioned guestrooms, and features private [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]beaches[/COLOR][/COLOR], 11 restaurants, a swim-up bar, a poolside bar, and a host of recreational amenities.
Commenting on the size of the sprawling hotel, the biggest in Jamaica, the general manager said it is all part of Fiesta's going large philosophy.
"It boils down to economics and tradition. A property this size can easily reap economies of scale, the operational cost is less than a hotel half this size so the return on investment is exponential. Traditionally, the Fiesta Group builds big resorts," the GM said, adding that Grand Palladium Suites & Spa Hotel Jamaica is doing very well.
"Jamaica is a primary destination in the Caribbean. It provides the airlift, infrastructure and it is English-speaking," said Kosvogiannis.
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