While the 400-acre Half Moon resort originally a combination of
two hotels built in the 1950s seems to have reached its limits on
expansion on the heels of its 50th anniversary, the interior of the
resort, located on Montego Bay, will undergo a multi-million-dollar
facelift. While renovations are part of a five-year program, many
updates will be completed this month.
The resort’s children’s center underwent a Jamaican-style
makeover designed so younger guests can learn more about the
island’s culture with activities like Jamaican dances and games.
The Anancy Children’s Village, named for a Jamaican cartoon
character, now includes volleyball and badminton courts, additional
playground equipment and a larger sandbox with landscaping.
The fitness center and spa will also undergo much needed
makeovers. The resort invested $100,000 in new fitness gear that
will replace the outdated equipment later this month.
While the spa’s treatments are popular among guests, the
facilities are not as popular. This spring, the Half Moon spa will
begin a $3 million renovation, and come December 2006, the spa will
be housed in a private four-bedroom villa. The Royal suites will be
converted into treatment rooms with ocean views, and the spa will
offer clients outdoor treatments as well as a cafe and shops.
The more than 40-year-old golf course will be redesigned to
create more of a challenge for players. And in 2007, the resort
will also revamp its public spaces, including the lobby and
restaurant areas.
Half Moon’s guestrooms are also undergoing a major makeover.
Currently, the resort features about 420 rooms and suites, but
officials haven’t committed to a final room count after the
renovations.
The 68 newly rebuilt Hibiscus suites offer wireless Internet,
and the hotel plans to expand its high-speed online services to
more guestrooms. The two-level deluxe suites, which offer clients a
full kitchen, are slated to be available this month and will likely
be popular with families. The guestrooms in the Oleander enclave
will be upgraded, including new furniture and bathrooms. Thirty of
Half Moon’s Superior-class rooms will be demolished to create a
garden area for wedding ceremonies.
While much of Half Moon will look quite different in the coming
years, some things will remain the same. The resort hosts 52
swimming pools, a 20-acre nature reserve and three shows daily by
resident dolphins. For clients really looking to relax, book them
in one of the five-, six- or seven-bedroom villas that come with
golf carts for getting around the resort; a maid, butler and
more.
Set on Half Moon Bay, the resort also offers guests a choice of
water activities, including snorkeling, paddle boats and catamarans
as well as scuba diving and PADI certification. But the beach
chairs seem to get most of the guests’ attention.
Half Moon Online
Half Moon also recently revamped its Web site to include a
virtual tour and interactive resort map as well as a preference
form allowing guests to submit special requests before they arrive.
The Web site, which went live in October, also features mini-sites
devoted to niche markets including weddings and honeymoons, groups
and incentive travelers.
Half Moon hosts more than 200 weddings a year and the romance
mini-site offers couples more information on planning their big day
as well as details on Half Moon’s wedding packages which are
commissionable to agents. The portion of the site dedicated to golf
allows clients to tour the greens and check out the course’s
ongoing renovations.
Half Moon offers a password-protected travel agent section
featuring industry specials, a calendar of events and a tool to
send e-postcards to clients. Travel professionals can also find
information on the Half Moon Ambassador Program, which offers
agents rewards based on bookings.
