Prime Minister Bruce Golding to host lunch with Spanish investors

Some of Spain's most powerful investors are confirmed for a luncheon with Prime Minister Bruce Golding this afternoon in Kingston, the Financial Gleaner has learned.

This is the first contact that Golding is having with the presidents of the groups whose investments have been the driver of Jamaica's strong FDI flows over the past few years.

Golding's luncheon guests will include Fiesta Hotel Group's Abel Matutes; Salvador Luque of the Fuerte Hotel Group, which is slated to construct a 750-room resort under the Secrets brand in Montego Freeport; Demetrio Ullastre, president of the Albertis Group, owners of MBJ Airports Limited; president of the Excellence Group, Pedro Montaner; president of Grupo Ibersotar, Miguel Fluxa; and Riu's country manager, Daniel Companovo.

The meeting comes on the eve of the official opening of Phase One of the 350-room Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Resort in Montego Bay - the function is set for Saturday morning - and a day after the new passenger processing hall at Sangster International is scheduled to be opened.

The Spaniards, who have steadily expanded their presence beyond their successful ventures in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, into areas like Jamaica, are expected to add 10,000 hotel rooms to the islandwide count within three years.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com