Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

New general manager of the Sunset Jamaica Grande Beach Resort and Spa, Ocho Rios, Clifton Reader (centre), and his wife Anna (right), chat with Dolphin Cove's Marilyn Burrowes during a welcome reception in his honour at the resort last Friday night. - Photos by Janet Silvera

WESTERN BUREAU:

The lights of the European vessel Aida enchantingly lit the Ocho Rios harbour, while an even more dazzling illumination radiated at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa last Friday night.

Twenty-two years in the hospitality industry and this was the first ever 'class is class' welcome reception that hotelier Clifton Reader had ever received.

St. Ann's movers and shakers were privy to this tastefully done function, readily embracing the new general manager of the 720-room Jamaican resort, which has made its name as the most popular destination among locals.

Reader's Sunset team spared nothing introducing him to the citizens of the cruise ship capital, captivating their appetites with a gastronomic feast of lamb loin wellington, crusted tenderloin, jerked pork loin, coconut crack conch, an assortment of cheeses, crackers and ultimately sinful pastries, culminating with music from child prodigy Jessica Yapp.

As exhilarating as the food was, the real treat of the evening came when the usually quiet Ian Kerr, Sunset Resort's managing director, shared his vision of involving the surrounding community with the hotel. "We are taking this resort to higher heights and our mandate is to build the community around us," he told his guests.

Extremely passionate about community development, Mr. Kerr said the reception was two-fold - an opportunity to welcome Clifton Reader to the resort and to say thanks to the staff who make his hotel what it is. "You can build any hotel, but if the staff is not offering hospitality from the heart, you are in trouble," he cautioned.

'Bonding with communities'

His sentiments were echoed by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Aloun Assamba, who compared the 'new look, new face' resort to the popular Virginia Slims advert, 'You've come a long way baby', while noting its importance to the diverse Brand Jamaica tourism product.

As for the resort's mandate, Reader, a known community leader, said it would be easy for him to continue what he has become accustomed to, "bonding with communities."

Using the opportunity to introduce what he refers to as his 'rock', he presented his wife, Anna.

Out to welcome the new general manager were St. Ann's first citizen, Custos Radcliff Walters and wife Norma, Carolle Guntley, Senator Noel Sloley, Supt. Ray Palmer, Ornesto Maffesanti, Andrew and Gillian Foga,Louis Grant, Sue McManus, Charmaine Deane, Barbara Lulich,Charmaine Tyndale, Peter Fraser, Hugh Wint,Pierre Battaglia, Stafford and Marilyn Burrowes, Eva Myers, Vana 'Tyra Banks' Taylor, Ned Wong, Joyce Tweedie, Judy O'Sullivan, Ravi Daswani,Dennis Richards, Norma Foreman-Davidson,Nicole Noble,Eaton and Pauline Haughton,Annabella Proudlock,Denyse Perkins,Sharon Williams, Suzette Burgess, Dr. Roosevelt Crooks and others.

First lady of the parish of St. Ann, Norma Walters (right) and artist Lisa Solon dance up more than a storm doing the Viennese waltz at the welcome reception.