Blackstone to spend US$30m on Rose Hall Resort

Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinato

PHOTO BY HERBERT MCKENIS The entrance to Wyndham Rose Hall.

PRIVATE EQUITY group Blackstone - owners of the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club (formerly Wyndham Rose Hall) plans to spend US$30 million to completely refurbish the 489-room hotel.

David Hirsh, managing director of the real estate group unveiled preliminary design plans to government agencies including the National Environmental and Protection Agency (NEPA), JAMPRO, the St. James Parish Council and fire and health department personnel at a meeting last Friday.

"Work is scheduled to start in April, if all the furnishing needed is available," general manager of the resort, Dermott Connelly confirmed to Hospitality Jamaica.

He said a model room is to be completed this month, with full refurbishing scheduled to last an average of a year. The resort is not expected to be closed during the period, as the work will be done in phases.

On completion the hotel will join the list of LXR Luxury Resorts worldwide.

The new look Rose Hall Resort and Country Club will have guests experiencing an infinity lobby which looks right into an unending pool that goes straight into the ocean. This area will be complemented by a grand staircase to transport persons to the lower level of the property.

To the left of the swimming pool the designers will build an entertainment area that will be partially surrounded by water.

All the rooms at the resort will take on a contemporary look, painted in light colours to give them a larger feel, said Garth Brown, the resorts' director of engineering.

Mr. Brown explained that the furniture in the rooms will be stained with mahagony, and carry both marble top vanities and mini bars.

"All of the balcony doors will be changed to hurricane standard glass," Mr. Brown told this publication. He said each king room will have bigger and deeper tubs, four inches wide, taking on the look of a Jacuzzi without the jets. "These will definitely fit the taste of our European clientelle," he added.

The floors are to be retiled and the hotel is still contemplating on using flat screen television in its rooms.

BLACKSTONE'S BACKGROUND

Blackstone has been a leader in the field of private equity investing since 1987, managing more than $14 billion through its Blackstone Capital Partners I, II, III, and IV, and Blackstone Communications Partners funds.

The firm has, on a consistent basis, successfully achieved its investment objectives.

Blackstone has invested in over 87 companies in a variety of industries, geographies and economic environments. Blackstone's current holdings include such diverse companies as Allied Waste, Celanese, Cine UK/UGC, Graham Packaging, Houghton Mifflin, Nalco, Southern Cross/NHP, Spirit Group, TRW Automotive, Texas Genco, and Universal Orlando. The total enterprise value of all transactions effected up to March 31, 2005, is over $110 billion.