GOLDENEYE -File photo
Al Edwards, Financial Editor
MUSIC INDUSTRY and hotel mogul Chris Blackwell is to expand the Goldeneye property located in the parish of St. Mary, Wednesday Business understands.
The original three bedroom Fleming House was the dwelling where the English thriller writer, Ian Flemming wrote 17 of his Bond books.
The property houses a number of villas, namely Honeychile, Villa 2, Tiffany Case and Domino and Villa 3-Romanov, Solitaire and Vesper. Royal Palm is a magnificent waterfront villa where each of the bedrooms are their own inclusive spacious building.
The plan is to expand the number of villas and to add some guest houses. Golden eye is located in the village of Oracabessa and includes James Bond Beach which has become a venue for concerts and shows.
The local tourism industry is now enjoying a much welcomed boost following the impact of the events of September 11, 2001. Hotel chain Riu has successfully built two hotels in Negril and the Pinero Group is also looking to break ground on a hotel project in Jamaica. The Government recently announced plans for developing a five-star resort in Trelawny named "Harmony Cove". The resort will consist of four five star hotels, three golf courses and a marina.
STOPOVER VISITORS
April saw some 124,000 stopover visitors an 18 per cent increase over the same period last year. Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba put this recent surge in tourists visiting the island to aggressive advertising and the warmth of industry staff.
Chris Blackwell also owns and runs a number of eclectic hotel resorts including Jakes, an enclave of 15 cottages created by theatrical designer Sally Henzell;
The Caves Hotel in Negrill, 10 hand-crafted cottages designed by Greer-Ann and Bertram Saulter and Strawberry Hill, Irish Town, 12 cottages designed by Ann Hodges. Mr. Blackwell is also the creator of Island Village, a retail and entertainment centre aimed at the Ocho Rios many tourists and cruise ship visitors.
Mr. Blackwell began Island Records in 1959 with the company recording many of Bob Marley's classic albumss.
