Couples Resorts Jamaica

Issa. “We’ve got one on each property. We grow cherry tomatoes, mint, basil – all farm-to-table, freshly grown right at the resort. We have all that in place, for those ingredients to land on the guest’s plate and be extremely fresh. We also do compost and are lobbying for more recycling.” Issa calls it “a long-haul process,” but insists that being environmental is part of the core of who they’ve always been. Along with farm-to-table consumption and on- site gardening, all four of the resorts support direct sourcing initiatives to encourage regional growth. “We spread it around and buy from every local farmer,” says Issa. “Even if it means paying a dollar or two extra, we try to keep all the local farms in business. Again, that’s sort of who we are as a brand; a fusing of humanitarian and eco- friendly objectives.” For wholesale food, beverage, and non-food supplies, the Couples Resorts hotels mostly rely on Caribbean Producers Jamaica out of Montego Bay. “They’ve been a wonderful business partner,” says Issa. “Antilles Freight Corporation is another critical element to our operations. They’re involved with shipping a whole variety of things needed for the hotels to run smoothly. From a marketing standpoint, Tambourine – they’ve been with us going on six years – is another top associate. They’ve really delivered the essential message of who we are, and have done so in a very creative way.” With the digital turn in the hotel industry bringing new intermediaries such as review forums and price comparison platforms into the fold, Issa has found that strengthening those online customer relationships usually leads to greater guest satisfaction and a higher level of brand loyalty. He notes, “We work closely with the Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board, and our tour operators, but for direct business, we really focus on internet-based marketing. The main platforms these days are COUPLES RESORTS JAMA I CA