Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

John Issa, executive chairman of SuperClubs Resorts. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

John Issa has landed a 10-year deal with Sunstar Hotel and Development SA to operate a 300-room luxury Breezes resort in Bijao, a luxury community in the province of Cocle, Panama.

The contract takes effect in the first quarter of next year, but the hotel, to be owned 100 per cent by Panamanian Sunstar, is not expected to be opened before the winter of 2008.

The 300-room property will feature a spa and casino.

The Breezes brand is owned by Issa's SuperClubs Resorts.

The Financial Gleaner was unable to secure comment on the size of the investment nor what the management contract is valued at for SuperClubs, which will also be responsible for marketing the property.

"It's our first hotel in Central America," said Issa, executive chairman of the hotel chain.

SuperClubs, meantime, is also to manage a third South American hotel, to be called the Breezes Buzios Resort, in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Leasing property

It is not clear whether this 330- room resort will be constructed by the same Panamanian developer, but Issa, the executive chairman for SuperClubs, said he would be leasing the property.

Both hotels should start construction in early 2007 with Breezes Buzios slated for completion in 2009.

The expansion will increase the Jamaican hotel chain's room count by a total of 630 rooms, its total number of resorts operated world-wide from eight to 10, and add significant strength to the Breezes brand, said Issa.

"SuperClubs always has a mix of arrangement of ownership, long term leasing and management," Issa said in a brief interview Thursday adding that the chain had ownership stake ranging from 15 to 100 per cent in different properties.

The group provides technical services, helped to plan the look of the hotels in conformity with the standards of the brand.

"SuperClubs has been our preferred partner for this development since the very inception because of its success, proven networks and track record," said Sunstar president Raul Jimenez, in a release announcing the hotel projects.

Issa said his company was approached by Sunstar to manage the property.

The Breezes chain is already located in 7 countries including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Curacao and Brazil.

Two of the hotels are owned by SuperClubs, three are long term leases, and the other three are operated under management contracts.

SuperClubs opened the Sonesta Brasilia resort in October this year.

The chain also owns the Hedonism and Grand Lido brands.

susan.smith@gleanerjm.com