Business View Caribbean | June 2019

21 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN JUNE 2019 island; four distinct dining destinations; the ultra- chic nightclub, Noir; an on-site dolphin habitat; and 17 acres of ivory sand on the longest stretch of private beach in Ocho Rios. Business View Caribbean recently spoke with Clifton Reader, General Manager and Director of Operations for Moon Palace Jamaica, and Cessie Cerrato, Senior Director of Public Relations for Palace Resorts. Their insights into what makes the ideal guest experience at a luxury resort come directly from visitors’ feedback, and explains why Moon Palace Jamaica shines like a starry night in the minds and hearts of all who’ve had the pleasure of a stay. Reader reflects, “I’m one of the persons who has been here the longest since Palace took the resort over on Sept 1, 2014. We basically gutted the entire property; it was Renaissance before – Sunset Jamaica Grande – and we reopened as Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in July 2016, then changed it to Moon Palace Jamaica. So, technically, on Sept 1, 2019 it will be five years since Palace put its first footprint here. One of the biggest impacts of Palace coming to Jamaica is we were the first hotel to send Jamaicans to Cancun for training, as it was important to the company to ensure both cultures would fully embrace each other’s, and fully understand the company’s practices and commitments to service. Some of us went for up to a month, and the training was invaluable because it wasn’t only technical training but also a culturized education. In fact, we continue to send people to our headquarters, “Cedis” in Cancun where our head office is. It’s important to Jamaica for the tourism sector. We’ve set up a commissary training institute where we train quite a few of our food and beverage employees. It’s working out very well for us – not only do we have Mexicans coming down for training but we also have Jamaicans going to Mexico to participate, as well.” At full capacity, Moon Palace Jamaica employs up to 1,200 people – 95 percent or more are Jamaican, many from the Ocho Rios area. The staff-to-rooms and staff-to-guests ratios are MOON PALACE JAMA I CA pictured above Clifton Reader, General Manager and Operations Manager of Moon Palace Jamaica