Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Chris Blackwell addresses the audience at the launch of the Bond Suites at the Imperial Museum in London last Wednesday night

WESTERN BUREAU:

Sexy, sleek, seductive apartments, with views to kill, is how PURE International describes Goldeneye's 'Bond Suites' unveiled by entertainment mogul Chris Blackwell at the Imperial War Museum in London on Wednesday night.

Bond cars parked outside the exclusive event at the museum, complemented the rich history of Ian Fleming, while Blackwell paid tribute to the '007' creator on the commemoration of his centenary.

"The event represented a unique chance to meet with the people who discovered and created this ultimate Caribbean getaway - Jamaica - and those in attendance were given private tours of the first-ever retrospective exhibition of Fleming's life, called 'For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond'," PURE International's chief executive officer, Sean Collins, tells The Gleaner.

A representation of the Bond Suites at Goldeneye. - Contributed photos

The legacy

Having visited Jamaica on a World War II intelligence mission, Ian Fleming fell in love with the island and returned to build his own home. He escaped nearly 11 winters at Goldeneye between 1953 and 1964, eventually writing all of his 14 '007' thrillers at the estate. Today, the retreat is a highly acclaimed boutique, 'Island Outpost' resort, part of Blackwell's growing luxury destination group.

"The properties now being marketed at Goldeneye will continue this impressive heritage," adds Collins. "We expect the historic lifestyle that Jamaica has to offer will attract buyers from across the globe."

Speaking of PURE's involvement with the Goldeneye project, Collins added: "The unique heritage of Goldeneye was, of course, a major factor in our desire to be involved in the project. However, of equal importance was Chris Blackwell. Chris is not a normal property; he is passionate about Jamaica and Goldeneye, he understands the nature of the resort intuitively and will ensure that the new Goldeneye is as magical for owners and guests as it is today."

The Bond Suites have brought a cool edge to Goldeneye. The brushed steel oceanfront apartments glass unit Bond Suites will feature infinity plunge pools or totally private roof terraces that have an amazing 'outdoor bath', and polished concrete.

The one- and two-bedroom Bond Suites start at US$750,000

(furnished), with the two-bedroom cottages starting at an asking price of US$1.25 million.

lavish 'Lagoon Villas

Complementing the Bond Suites will be lavish three- and four-bedroom 'Lagoon Villas', featuring private pools and decks, with some enjoying guest cottages that add further entertaining spaces. 'Bay Cottages' on the western tip of the Goldeneye peninsula will have private white sand beaches and decks over the sea to dock small boats, and stunning 'Island Cottages' are located on their own private island.

The entire project is valued at US$100 million.

Rolling out this new stage of the Island Outpost evolution at the Oracabessa, St Mary estate, Blackwell, who has taken residential tourism to another level, told The Sunday Gleaner in December 2007, "I am keen on promoting 'Residential Tourism' in Jamaica, encouraging visitors to put down roots in this incredible country."

With the structural shift in the industry towards residential resort development, he said then that Island Outpost is uniquely positioned to create exclusive international communities at its spectacular locations, with a focus on health and fitness, underpinned by cutting-edge technology and comprehensive management/rental programme.

The project comes at a time when the island has seen major improvement in infrastructure development in the last five years, attracting direct foreign investment for tourism development.

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