Roger Robinson/Freelance Photographer
From left: Custos of St. Ann, Radcliff Walters; GM of Breezes Runaway Bay, Kevin Levee; Norma Walters, wife of the Custos, and Suzanne McManus, vice-president of public relations, SuperClubs, at the Ocho Rios Christmas tree lighting on Saturday, December 8.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It has been one of the best-kept secrets in the SuperClubs hotel chain. Its pristine beaches, charmingly affable and engaging staff are the very toast of the resort. And then there is the fare - faultlessly continental with a touch of island cuisine and flair that has earned rave reviews among international vacationers.

The resort in question - Breezes Runaway Bay!

So, what do you do when you have a good thing going? Well, you most certainly do not sit on your laurels. So, to maximise service and guest satisfaction, the parent company of SuperClubs amalgamated Breezes Runaway Bay and Hedonism III into one virtual resort, melding the management structure under the capable directions of Hedonism II and the affable Kevin Levee. And voila, what was already a fabulous product, was made that much more fabulous!

Rave reviews

And, according to the new 'bible' of international travel - TripAdvisor.com - Breezes Runaway Bay has been doing nothing but earning rave reviews.

And little wonder here, as Kevin Levee has the enviable track record of taking the brand new Hedonism III from nothingness and made it one of the most-talked-about and frequented resorts ever.

My dears, two Fridays ago Breezes Runaway Bay celebrated its 23rd anniversary in fine and elegant style.

Luvs, it's really quite difficult not to be enamoured, if not seduced, by Breezes Runaway Bay. It is one charming property, beautifully laid out over 20 acres of fabulously landscaped lands, enhanced by gurgling fountains; cabana-styled bars and an undulating pool that sits in the midst of rolling lawns and gardens on one hand, and the ever-inviting waters of the Caribbean Sea on the other.

Added charm

A recent multimillion-dollar facelift saw the addition of some 30 private suites with veranda plunge pool, in the Easter Courtyard; an infinity pool with swim-up bar - all adding to the charm of the prized resort destination, while bringing up its room count to 263.

Children, the resort's entertainment manager, Carlton Rutherford, and his staff, managed to enhance what is already one fine resort and transform it into one exotic island oasis of pleasure and sheer fantasy. From lobby to dining deck and entertainment area, the walk was made that much more pleasurable with blazing lanterns and a stream of multicoloured balloons.

And the feast! Children, here we are talking one absolutely fabulous spread of a gourmet offering here, as food and beverage manager, Keith Samuels, and executive chef Mark Cole not only laid it on, they also dished it out, and pumpkins, we are talking five-star offering and service.

Gastronomic fare

My dears, you name it, if it is known in the civilised world of gastronomy, it was on offer, and faultlessly so! GM Kevin Levee welcomed his guests and commended staff for their continued effort and contribution in making the resort and its services the experience it is.

There was magic; hot Latin dancers; a pyrotechnic floor show; and a simply amazing trapeze show. The resort literally stood still, throughout its presentation. And then party band, Errol Lee and The Bare Essentials, took it home in marvellous party mode.

But my dears, with adrenaline pumping and the night being young, the partying was not over, not by a long shot, and so it was on to the Hurricane Discotheque and piano bar where guests simply continued.

Among the notables spotted were: Custos of St. Ann, Radcliff Walters and his elegant wife Norma; MP Othneil Lawrence and wife Deborah; SuperClubs VP Sam James, his charming wife Yvonne, and their son, Sam Jr.; his colleague VP, the charming Sue McManus; famed golfer Seymour Rose, his lovely wife Odette, and their daughter Sherrie Rose; hoteliers Richard and Carol Bourke and their daughter Samantha; Mr. and Mrs. Kumar Sujinani of Gem Palace; Gilbert Blackwood of Club Ambience; Audrey Boswell; the charming Sonia Davis; Andrew Reid of Caribbean Producers and Oral DaCosta of National Meats.

Also spotted were: Mrs. Rowena Wright; Hans DaSilva of Lascelles Wines; Pepsi's Wayne Lobban; Mahesh Asrani; Fred Smith of Exclusive Holidays; multi-repeat guests: Erwin and Helga Sommer of Germany, on their 82nd visit to the retreat; Roy and Paulette Mullings of New York, on their 62nd visit; Cyrus Ahyung, also out of New York, on his 60th visit; and another New Yorker, Valerie Butler, on her 55th visit; and the resort's PR manager, the charming Patricia Clarke