By Devon Evans, Gleaner WriterOCHO RIOS, St. Ann
NOISEMAKERS WAILED amidst screams and shouts of "Happy New Year" as the full house of over 500 visitors and local guests at the SuperClubs Hedonism III hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann welcomed the arrival of the year 2005.
President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, Pauline Haughton, and her husband Eaton, along with area chairman of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association Bonner Taylor, headed the list of special guests, who were invited by General Manager Kevin Levee, to share in what was a truly entertaining and enjoyable affair.
Cabaret singer, Kevin Clarke, backed by resident band Ecstasy lead the momentous countdown which began at approximately 15 minutes to midnight.
DOWNPOUR OF RAIN
Dressed in full white outfit, Clarke's electrifying act was a mixture of reggae and soca which quickly ignited the large gathering of revellers on the hotel's spacious pool deck, and took them into a sizzling hot party lasting close to an hour into the new year, when a downpour of rain forced the patrons inside.
Confetti rained on the dancing crowd throughout the last three minutes of 2004, and when the new year finally arrived, the hugs, handshakes and kisses were overwhelming.
Earlier the guests were treated to some top-class entertainment including a presentation from the Hedonism III entertainment crew, in addition to fire dancing by Prince Bob, the Cool Boys doing a Michael Jackson imitation dance and a sparkling performance by singer Judy Emmanuel.
Also among the revellers were Superintendent Ray Palmer, officer in charge of the St. Ann division, as well as former divisional commander, Superintendent Baldwin Burey.
Mr. Levee, accompanied by his smartly dressed wife Michelle, was pleased to report that 2004 was a most challenging year for tourism, and that it had ended successfully for the hotel, with the future looking even brighter.
Mr. Levee said over 100 repeat guests were in-house for the celebration and that the year 2005 is already shaping up to be a good one for bookings at the property.
