I found and read this years ago, if your into the history of the island in th 70,s this is a great read. I have met Frank Rance, he as of last I know owns and operates the FDR resot in Runaway Bay.http://www.jamaicajim.com/history.htm
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I found and read this years ago, if your into the history of the island in th 70,s this is a great read. I have met Frank Rance, he as of last I know owns and operates the FDR resot in Runaway Bay.http://www.jamaicajim.com/history.htm
Interesting read! Before I found Negril in the early 80's, all of my foreign travels involved Club Med (went to Martinque 2X, Guadelope 2X, Moorea and Bora Bora plus a trip on a old small sailboat they used to operate in the Caribbean) and the old Windjammer Barefoot Cruises sailing on tall ships; and my very first trip to Jamaica was to Hedonism! Since then almost all trips have been to Jamaica. Lots of great memories from the old Club Med days!
I have stayed at FDR Twice. Good times when I was a little kid.
First one in Negril was Negril Beach Village built by the gov't. Now it's Hedo. We used to call it Rutland Point which is the name if the land it's on.
There used to be another link that started right from the beginning about the government building Negril Beach Village.
When a couple years ago, lmao.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
Thanks for the link. Very interesting.
lol. I was in 8th grade. So about 15 years now.Quote:
Originally Posted by poolguywindsor
I turned 29 yesterday btw!
Happy birthday old man!
Hey, thanks!
I am celebrating tomorrow by watching the Flyers kick off their journey to the cup and Giroux an MVP!
Damn man...I got ties that are 29Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
Might need to revamp the wardrobe then :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by captaind
LOL, I was going to say I have shoes older than you. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
I know, wardrobe malfunction
hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by Lady Jane
yes and we would sneak in to Negril Beach Village by going into the old Coconut Grove and coming in from the beach side. Rickman should us how. yes man some memories!
That would have been cool to see back then, were there a lot of coconut groves close to the each back then George?
That was an interesting read, thanks. I was curious about the Couples poster that was commissioned, printed and then abandoned because it was suggestive, here it is http://www.amazon.com/Couples-Heathe.../dp/B0073WSL1S
poolguywindsor......your initial link seemed very familiar to the Couples Resorts history that I know through their website....although the story seems to kind of end with the 70's....As many of us know, the Issa family has ties to both Couples AND Superclubs, although both companies are separate entities....Interesting that while SuperClubs is slowly exiting the island one property at a time(assuming of course, that Hedo will keep going), The former Grand Lido Negril/Breezes Negril is a pending sale to no other than(and the neighboring property) Couples Resorts. Hedo III in Runaway Bay was sold, as well as (my 1st ever JA trip->)Breezes Runaway Bay...and 1 or 2 more properties I believe, just in the last year or two. SuperClubs still goes on as far as I know in Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, and Curacao(and probably more places I'm not aware of)....I wonder what's up with all that....anyway, here's a similar..yet brief link to the Issa's and Couples: http://couples.com/history.php
....by the way, my 1st Ja trip was in '93 when the property was called "Jamaica Jamaica". I knew I'd be back, even though it took 14 years and a wife to get back:o
No longer. Couples has instead purchased the Almond Casuarina Beach Resort in Barbados and will be rebranded as Couples Barbados.Quote:
Originally Posted by lisapat
WHOA!!!! that IS a revelation, Muck. Ever since we decided to actually visit Negril, instead of just staying at Couples Negril, I've lost touch with the happenings of Couples except for an occasional visit to their site...That's a biggie that they are not only going to expand to another island, but one so far away....there was talk for years that the next Couples property was going to be a possible "Couples Trelawny"..making it the 5th Couples on the island..but I guess it never took shape. This is news....
From what I read Hedonism II was sold and appears that is the case as the website is not affiliated any more.
Superclubs is down to 5 properties....4 in Jamaica and one in the Bahamas. As another poster stated the Breezes/Couples deal fell through and for the time being will remain. Hedonism II is sold pending the completion of the deal which is rumored to be by the end of this month. The Issa family is going to keep a small stake in the resort as well as Kevin Levee who has been the General Manager of Hedo II (and Hedo III) for many years. 10 Million Dollars (US) is going to be put into the old girl for some much needed renovations. Here is the press release dates 11/7/12.
HEDONISM II IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR GROUP
Company to be owned by Harry Williams, Jon Gross, John Issa Family and Kevin Levee
NEGRIL, JAMAICA November 7, 2012 – SuperClubs Chairman, John Issa, announced today that he is in negotiations to sell Hedonism II to Marshmallow Ltd a new company headed by majority stockholder Harry Williams and including Jon Gross of UnWind Travel (Fluffernutters), the John Issa Family and Kevin Levee.
The group has said that upon conclusion of a deal, there will be a smooth transition of ownership with no interruption to service. All reservations and tour operator contracts will be honoured and the property will not be rebranded and will continue to deliver and enhance the Hedonism Holiday.
Harry Williams expressed his excitement, “Hedonism II is John Issa’s legacy, the concept, formation and operation has so much of him in it. It has been a long-term goal of mine to own the resort and to invest the funds needed to enhance its facilities to even higher standards. We are proud that he has chosen to consider us to continue to innovate, modernize and maintain Hedonism II as the leading resort in our industry.”
“This ownership group is ideal and should calm any fears that Hedonists have had about their beloved resort falling into hands that have no understanding or experience in this market,” said Jon Gross, CEO of Marshmallow Ltd.
John Issa added, “Hedonism II is the ultimate gem in its market, not only is the location on the seven-mile Beach in Negril ideal but it is the storied resort that all its competitors attempt to live up to. It is an important part of my contribution to tourism and I am happy to be in discussions for it to be preserved for many years to come by people that hold it as dear to their hearts as I do.”
Kevin Levee, a 28-year employee of SuperClubs and the current General Manager of the resort added, “our first goal is to bring the operation of the resort back to 100% and to this end we are immediately investing in many of the facilities”.
Marshmallow Ltd has a US$10 million renovation plan including room renovations, which will begin immediately on completion.
Sitting on 22 acres on Negril’s scenic seven-mile beach amid ocean views and white sand beaches, Hedonism II has 280 beach- and garden-view rooms plus 12 suites with private Jacuzzis and terraces for intimate time alone. From a wide array of Super-Inclusive water and land sports to the late night Hurricanes club, nightly themed parties and five bars,
OK thats what I thought, this is good news for all those that love this place as it was in desperate need of a refresh. I stayed there back in about 93 and always wanted to spend a couple nights there just to refresh some of them long ago memories.
PGW. Werw you cruising the beach balls out?
Damn 29 wow those were the days.
For the history buffs...
Frenchman's Cove located in Port Antonio and built in the 1960's is considered to be the first All Inclusive resort in the world.
Hey Dave,
Coconut Grove was the name of the resort which in now Sandals. The original buildings are the on side near Hedo.
hey flipadelphia, yall decided where u r staying on the beach yet?
Ok, got it thought maybe the beach used to look like Punta cana.
Yep, and there is a photo out there from oneof the Jacka#@$ that I was there with, but that was only after they had this crazy drinkin party on Booby Cay and we were running and sliding between the naked girls legs. Never mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
I am NOT a fan of AI's. Let me first say that I by no means know how ALL of them are run, but I do have first hand knowledge of the business practices of SOME of them. While you are enjoying your "all I can eat and all the bad liquor I can drink", and looking at the smiling faces who serve you, those faces are suffering mightily. Raises this century are almost unheard of and the salaries most of the workers are paid would not feed a cat. In the meantime, the COST of an all inclusive VaCay HAVE kept pace with inflation. That worker will work a SIX day week, up to 12 hour or more days (remember US worker, you get at least two days off a week). In the meantime, NO consideration is given for work scheduling. Meaning that worker can work until late in the night and THEN be scheduled to come on board for their next shift early AM. with maybe 3 hours sleep possible,
Tipping..... remember that your literature told you your ALL INCLUSIVE package INCLUDED all staff tips. LMAO... they never saw a DIME of that this millennium. In the meantime, if YOU try to tip them , and they are caught taking it, they are FIRED, and even a bad job is better than no job at all. Many times resorts will hire silent guests to pretend to be vacationing who are really undercover. Tipping is a big scare because these guests will offer really irresistible tips and the minute the worker takes it, JOB OVEr. They don't have to do this often , as the threat is hanging there always.
Did you know that if your worker is lucky enough to have a private vehicle, that they are searched everyday they leave work. trunk popped, and mirror run under the car?? I am not telling you what I THINK, I am telling you what I KNOW, I have been in the car with them. Back packs are searched at random, pat down searches, even CAVITY searches, YES,,,,, to insure that not even a bottle of water is stolen from the AI.
Ever see the men haul the tables and chairs and drapes through the sand down to the beach for that breakfast buffet or Jamaica night you love so much, and then wait around until the wee hours of the morning to break it all down and then be there bright and early to set up breakfast?
All of this for somewhere between 40.00-60.00 a week US for wages.
Now BEFORE you start defending your AI and telling me all this is BS, I will tell you that these are places I STAYED and became friends with the people who worked there and i KNOW what I am talking about when it comes to this AI.
I also have done my homework and the ONLY AI in Jamaica that does NOT exhibit most of these unfair practices is the Ritz Carlton, and most Jamaicans would give an eye teeth to work there.
I do not support the AI system, I think it is a form of modern day slavery, and as a black person of conscious, I will NOT spend my money at them, nor support them with my travel business. For all of you who claim to LOVE Jamaica so much, I urge you to open your eyes. But then again, you just can't beat those air package deals,can you??? And after all ,it is all about YOUR VACATION right?? I will say this though, if AI's were to cease to exist a WHOLE lot of people would be out of a job, even if it is a very bad job... so it is an unsolvable dilemma... kill the chicken or kill the egg???? But at least open your eyes.
You know you're too old to do these shenanigans now. Right?Quote:
Originally Posted by poolguywindsor
Think of Jackie cruising by on the beach and looking over lol. Poor thing.
No.... You going to be down same time?Quote:
Originally Posted by groove16
looks like it...
From what I see at Hedonism now, I am not quite old enough or wrinkled up enough to do a repeat performance!
Lmao! So true. Btw. We walked through over New Years and Jackie starts freaking out and pointing at something I noticed minutes earlier. A woman pleasuring her boyfriend/husband with her mouth. lmao.
Where you thinking?Quote:
Originally Posted by groove16
I'm leaning toward
Kuyaba
Gatehouse villa
Wild parrot
Fun holiday
Nirvana.
Going to get serious in about a week or 2
Misti1, I get what your saying and thats true they are not always the best jobs, better than none though. I just stayed at Seashore Bay and they have an open tip policy, with most of the workers left over from Beaches they seemed to be really happy with the changes and the relaxed employee rules, it showed too as a guest.
One of the good things that comes from the AI , there are always those tourists that never would have travelled to Jamaica without them, and a certain percent who make there way out of the compound and discover whats out there return several times to support other tourism.
PGW. You're right about that. We would have never went to Jamaica without AI. We could have randomly went to another island instead.
We learned on the fly. Didn't know about this board until after we came home.