Blackwell Invests US$9M Into Beach Huts

Goldeneye Hotel and Resort, the luxury resort property developed from the original estate of writer Ian Fleming, will be getting a new look with the addition of 26 more villas to bring its units to a total of 44.

The hotel is located in Oracabessa, a small town in St. Mary, about 10 miles east of Ocho Rios, Jamaica’s tourist mecca.

Goldeneye is owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and operates under the Island Outpost brand. He is also the owner of Strawberry Hill Hotel & Spa in Irish Town as well as the Caves in Negril.

Blackwell reportedly told the press that he is prepared to pump US$9 million into the property come early next year.

These new, octogonal-shaped units referred to by Blackwell as beach huts will form part of a beach development and a cove. The kid-friendly area will have its own watering hole as well as a fish shack, he reportedly told the Business Observer.

The upscale Goldeneye property, which sits on 52 acres, has 18 villas (in inventory) including the Ian Fleming Villa (five bedrooms), eight beach and eight lagoon villas comprising 16 1-2 bedroom units.

“In keeping with our standards we are of course planning to do a sort of dry run,” said group general manager Ricardo Bowleg, who added that the increase in rooms was “the result of interest in the property and the increased demand for accommodations”.

Architect Ann Hodges, who specializes in restoration architecture and who famously restored Strawberry Hill post-Hurricane Gilbert into a boutique hotel and spa, is tasked with the creation of these haute huts.

Noted interior designer Marika Kessler will handle the design details including sourcing locally made furnishings and amenities.