So has anyone stayed at Gardenia since Hotel Impossible visit ?

I'm staying there in a week hoping it looks a lot better

Do yourself a favor and go in with low expectations. Not that Gardenia cannot step up to meet what you are looking for, however if they rise above it will make your trip that much better. It is all Irie.......

wondering too

I didn't take many pictures but this was my room that i stayed in December 24, 2012 - January 3, 2013. This room is located across from the pool (if you watched the webcast and you looked beyond the pool, it is the room on the far right. It did have a porch, but it had only one chair and it was covered in old plastic and was dusty.

excuse the unmade beds

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A few more...and their was not a mirror in my bathroom. Now, they could have gotten to this room, I don't know, but as of January 3, 2013 this is what it looked like.

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Also, where you see the foldable hamper...they put a small fridge there that I had requested.

It seemed pretty clear that they really didn't have the money to do the recommended renovations. Seemed to me that the consultant thought the idea of renovating for a mere $1,000/room was a cheap fix, whereas the owner recognized he really didn't have the funds.

wouldn't want his monthly water and light bill...

I'm not sure agreeing to appear on such a program will help the establishment, but I certainly don't mean to seem as if I'm slamming the place. The 'problems' cited are common to lodging establishments in Negril. You simply can't use US standards in viewing hotels in JA. Maintaining a property in a environmentally challenging climate (salty air and humidity age wood and metal very fast) where materials costs are very high make it impossible to maintain standards that would be considered the norm in the US. And in a resort area where occupancy is going to be quite low for half the year, the revenue stream just isn't there. Regular visitors readily accept that and understand that the relatively low rates they pay for lodging are predicated on tourists not expecting everything to look like a recently constructed Holiday Inn. But the establishments in Negril have a lot more individuality and charm than you'll find in cookie cutter hotels in the US.

I love charm. But $100.00 is too much for the rooms we saw. (the one on the show and the pics posted here by Luvsdaislands.)

According to their website, the rates are much less than $100 a night for most rooms.

davevols good to know. I was going by the rate quoted in the broadcast last night.

$62/night, double, no fridge, plus 10% tax, is the lowest, off season price. I'm going with Hidden Paradise for $61, all in. Includes a fridge.

All the best to Gardenia though. Wasn't able to see the show as I don't have that channel. Looks like I'll have to buy it on Amazon, as I wasn't able to find any other "good" site to watch it for free online.

I agree with Jon,,,I saw the show and I just dont think they have the business acumen to succeed. I mean they didnt even know about Negril.Com or how to utilize the 85% of folks who book through the internet...

Nice offer by Rob and I hope Negril.com gets alot of spikes today but ??? They only did one room,never spoke about shows,food,,never spoke about how to get guests across that busy road to the beach,they can't afford street guards like SATP...

I hope they get an investor who pays the $1,000 per room to do ALL the rooms and is knowledgeable about marketing.Look at Sea Star much harder place to get to Yet,they thrive due to the Sat drum show.....Also they have no guest and Yet want to charge $100 ????

Get another investor,lower the rates to get folks in there,create theme parties,givewaways,get a hawker on the beach etc....

I was a reservations manager of a resort in Lake Geneva for 12 years and I feel kind of bad for them. The show didn't portray them well at all especially the people working there. Instead of leaving them at the point where the staff was getting trained they should have come back a few months later and shown what improvements were made. It is hard for the properties because they really don't have the money for improvements but so much can be had with just a clean room and a few inexpensive basic improvements. Not even $1000 a room. There has been many times I have stayed at a property and thought it is so beautiful if only they would do a couple of things that don't cost money just manpower. The people who work at the non AI's have not had a chance to get training required to do a job, so they do pretty much what they are shown to do. And making reservations, unless trained in how to do it and selling the property is hard if the person is not told if they have any leeway with the price and taught to "sell" the rooms. Negril is still relatively young and hopefully some of the larger ones will be able to afford to train people. I think it is easier for the smaller properties because the people who work there are able to be more like family and don't have 50-75 rooms they have to worry about.

Just to note...
These owners/GM are new to Gardenia & the filming was back in Dec...low occupancy was to be expected as this hotel was essentially closed prior to the take over...high season has helped & proper advertising will get this property going again.

The owner & GM are not new to the hotel business...being new at Gardenia, I think they were smart to get help from a well-known tv show almost from the get go.

The grounds are beautiful....rooms at this time are basic & clean...they offer round the clock security...a pool...bar(s)...restaurant...this property is very well-priced ($57-97us) for what it offers comparatively.

Richard is a great guy & I wish them well!!

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Originally Posted by Bnewb

Just to note...
These owners/GM are new to Gardenia & the filming was back in Dec...low occupancy was to be expected as this hotel was essentially closed prior to the take over...high season has helped & proper advertising will get this property going again.

The owner & GM are not new to the hotel business...being new at Gardenia, I think they were smart enough to get help from a well-known tv show almost from the get go.

The grounds are beautiful....rooms at this time are basic & clean...they offer round the clock security...a pool...bar(s)...restaurant...this property is very well-priced ($57-97us) for what it offers comparatively.

Richard is a great guy & I wish them well!!

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I've known Richard since his Tamboo days, he IS a great guy :) Wish them all the best....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bnewb

Just to note...
These owners/GM are new to Gardenia & the filming was back in Dec...low occupancy was to be expected as this hotel was essentially closed prior to the take over...high season has helped & proper advertising will get this property going again.

The owner & GM are not new to the hotel business...being new at Gardenia, I think they were smart enough to get help from a well-known tv show almost from the get go.

The grounds are beautiful....rooms at this time are basic & clean...they offer round the clock security...a pool...bar(s)...restaurant...this property is very well-priced ($57-97us) for what it offers comparatively.

Richard is a great guy & I wish them well!!

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I help run a small motel here in So. Fl. and I have watched nearly every broadcast of Hotel Impossible. The premise is not to turn every property into a thriving business (although that is up to the people to do when Anthony and his designer leave) but, instead to provide a "wake up" call to management and demonstrate how a small, targeted investment can achieve success. Yes, Bnewb, I too "think they were smart enough to get help" and the "goodies" that get donated (i.e. reservation system, HEART Training and (of course) Negril's resident "Internet Guru"'s assistance, etc.) provide a good foundation to build upon.

A good number of the properties featured on the show revert back to the practices that got them into trouble in the first place but I appears that The Gardenia may defy that problem. Turning a loser into a winner is a long, laborous process. It took us almost 10 years to develop the reputation and returning guest clientel to sustain a profitable business.

That property is "well-priced" and, if they continue to improve, it will one day have the following that other Negril properties enjoy. In closing, I have to say that a lot of the properties that people rave about here on this site are run-down former shells of the property they used to be but that is what reputation does (or doesn't do) for you.

Peace and Guidance

Was that Ragabones in that photo of the week?

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Originally Posted by Nick

Was that Ragabones in that photo of the week?

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Nick...that is Raggabone's son in that particular shot. :)

They did seem like good people. I hope they do well.

Hi, Has anyone every stayed in the privately owned suites in Gardenia Resort? I am looking at one on line for 4 weeks this summer?