According to their website, the rates are much less than $100 a night for most rooms.
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.
http://negril.com/forum/signaturepics/sigpic9303_1.gif
$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!!
Last edited by Bnewb; 03-06-2013 at 12:49 PM.
I've known Richard since his Tamboo days, he IS a great guyOriginally Posted by Bnewb
Wish them all the best....
"Yeah, I'm cocky and I am arrogant. But that doesn't mean I'm not a nice person."
—Jeremy Roenick
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.
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Was that Ragabones in that photo of the week?
Nick...that is Raggabone's son in that particular shot.
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