How the AI resort was started in Jamaica.

[Flipadelphia26]

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.

[poolguywindsor]

Between this board and realnegril webcasts, think of how many tourists would have never left the AI!

[lisapat]

Poolguy, that makes 2 of us, right here!!..Patrick and myself...we did Couples Resorts for 5 years before getting here and realizing that we could enjoy Jamaica without all that hype...The resort people never tried to intimidate us like I've read here so many times, that leaving the property was a scary undertaking, we just felt that, seeing the "third world" through the windows of the happy bus while getting from Sangster to AI, was a cautionary venture on it's own, and thus, didn't try to leave the comforts of our hotel. You must admit....for the price you're paying to be there, you might as well stay and drink, eat, play, relax all you can, as the outside will be "coin operated", and staying onsite is already "paid for". I couldn't help, though..looking past the "point" of Bloody Bay (Point Village) from the beach, that there was more of Seven Mile Beach to enjoy, more of Jamaica and it's people, and more of Negril. Glad this board is here

[Rob]

To set some matters straight and let the truth be known, raises in the minimum wages in Jamaica this century alone has seen the minimum wage increase in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. I am not agreeing with the amount of the wages, just setting the record straight.

http://www.lmis.gov.jm/lmis.aspx?id=...inimum%20Wages

http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ne...-effect-today-

There are rules and regulations for all manners of pay including overtime, holiday, vacation and gratuity payments. These are laws that all employers must follow. If an employee states something different, then perhaps they are unaware or have some other reason to not let you know the facts.

http://www.mlss.gov.jm/download/HolidayPay.pdf

http://www.ilocarib.org.tt/projects/...ica_act5.shtml

Some basic guidelines for all Jamaican employers can be found at:

http://www.jamaicatax.gov.jm/index.p...ployer-s-guide

As a business owner in Jamaica, I have had to keep abreast of these laws and make sure that they are followed.

There is a reason that any job opening at a major all-inclusive never has a lack of respondents - these job are highly sought after positions.

And as for the security checks, when Lisa was dealing with some business issues with Beaches, they searched her every time she entered the property. She noticed that everyone was being searched from the groundskeepers to upper management. There were no exceptions.

[MoFromMonroe]

We also did Couples Negril for 5 years before going non AI. It was actually the Couples program of "Trading Places" allowing us to spend the day at Couples Swept Away that got us out of the AI. Once at CSA it was easy to walk down the beach and check out other resorts, bars and restaurants. Of course after that negril.com paved the rest of the way. I don't think we would ever go back but do agree it is a pretty safe way to ease into a new country.

[lisapat]

we did the same thing, Mo...did love the trading places thing, and MAy go back one day to CN, but probably not for $$ sake. We're still not totally off the inclusive thing as we just LOVE Grand Pineapple, but will start this next reach with a stay at Seastar Inn

[poolguywindsor]

Thanks for clarification Rob, from what I have heard the laws for employees in Jamaica are very similar to here in Canada.