Philip Rose, Jamaica Tourist Board's newly appointed Regional Director of Canada, with Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director, Round Hill Hotel & Villas
Mary Phillips, General Manager, Jamaica Inn; Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director, Round Hill Hotel & Villas; and Lillian Day, President, Resort to the Best
Two of Jamaica's most exclusive resorts, Jamaica Inn and Round Hill Hotel & Villas, hosted an intimate luncheon at a Toronto restaurant last week. Two tables were set in a cozy private room, a fireplace was roaring and guests were greeted with a glass of wine. With less than 20 guests to share the afternoon with, it felt much more like a family gathering rather than an industry event.
Although Jamaica is the birthplace of the all-inclusive product, Jamaica Inn and Round Hill are a completely different experience. Represented in Canada by Resort to the Best, both resorts span a history of 50+ years that pride themselves on luxurious accommodations and delivering clients personalized, seamless service.
Round Hill has hosted an array of celebrities and prominent figures including the late JFK, Paul McCartney, Ralph Lauren and heartthrob of the moment, Ryan Gosling. This year, Round Hill is promoting the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, which runs at the end of the month. Canada's very own Celine Dion is headlining the musical event which Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director of Round Hill, believes is the reason the resort is sold out this year.
"Jamaica is the best," said Josef. "I know I'm completely biased." The charismatic, Austrian-born Jamaican attributes his "funny" accent to his birthplace, but considers himself 100% Jamaican, "With passport and all."
And what did Mary Phillips, General Manager of Jamaica Inn, have to say about her homeland? "Jamaica is the country with the most amazing rum and the most amazing marijuana," she joked.
Jamaica Inn is Mary's baby and she has seen the resort evolve to a beautiful 52 suite romantic destination for honeymooners and guests who are looking for a secluded sanctuary of a getaway. Guests won't find televisions or radios in their abodes - all the more opportunity to stare into a loved one's eyes. Of course, Mary did reveal that televisions were available upon request for guests staying in the resort's cottages and the exclusive White Suite.
However, the afternoon was much more than two resort presentations. With such a small gathering, guests truly got to know the Jamaican representatives on a more personal level, and as a result, got to know a bit more about Jamaica. Conversation flowed as movies and books were discussed, and personal biographies were shared. According to Philip Rose, Canada’s newly appointed Regional Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica has many layers that are more than the all-inclusive vacation. "Your Jamaica may not be the same as my Jamaica," he said. "But together, we will find our Jamaica."
As the luncheon came to an end, Mary teasingly taunted us Torontonians, "Thank you for coming. I hope it gets colder and colder."
After the weekend we just had with frigid below zero temperatures, we can't possibly find Jamaica soon enough.
