Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

It's been a year since what has been dubbed the second Spanish Invasion of Jamaica has been under way. Only this time around the Spanish are not here as invaders in search of gold and glory for king and country, they are tapping into the country's natural beauty, as they seek to expand their tourism interest regionally.

And while the term invasion resurrects imagery of violence, truth be told, since the Spanish has launched investment initiatives here; it is they who have been savaged in some quarters for their investment. But that, my dears, is a story, for another time and place.

The place to be

My dears, last weekend it was all about Lucea, and the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa, at the occasion of its first anniversary celebrations, and my dears, it was quite the place to be!

As the story goes, the resort came about due to the initiative of former prime minister, P.J. Patterson, who, in one of his many overseas trips, met the owners of the Spanish chain of hotels, the Fiesta Hotel Group and invited them to invest in the island. The result being a number of new resorts being built. The Grand Palladium Resort and Spa was constructed in the record time in Lucea, Hanover, with over 1000 rooms.

With so many rooms, y'all know we are talking one gigantic resort and my dears, that it is set on over 500 acres, hugging the Hanover coastline and hillsides, it makes for one sprawling resort, with its beauty being that it is one very charming resort and then some!

Luvs, suffice it to say that a three-day two-night stay at the resort was not enough to discover and enjoy all its charms, features, amenities, pools and lovely beaches. It is, however, enough time to gain an appreciation for the care and thought the owners and managers put into making such a large operation function smoothly. And if there were ever any doubts as the where the manager and his team place that premium to make that operation a success, last weekend's first anniversary reception should dispel all doubts. The weekend was all about the toasting and celebration of its hundreds of staff.

Simply luxuriating

The resort's experience from check-in to kicking back on any of its lovely beaches, or simply luxuriating in the sun-park, or any of its inviting pools, or dining in any of the restaurants, is a grand experience, made more so by the staff.

If living it up is your thing and grand style your preferred mode, then my dears, this must be among your preferred destination.

Now, recognising that the staff is that crucial link to stated goals and the delivery of the services, the managers decided on honouring them with a reception and awards ceremony. And dears, it was a celebration of gargantuan proportions.

From the very charming reception, to welcome guests on Friday night, to the mega awards ceremony in the resorts amphitheatre on Saturday, to the ecumenical service on Sunday morning, it was all about honouring and celebrating the staff who have been with the hotel and making it all happen.

Big-wigs affair

Dears, with all the big-wigs of the tourism sector, and its related agencies, in attendance, suppliers and repeat guests, (yes, in its first year of operations, the resort has managed to create a cadre of multi-repeat guests. Many have been to the resort as many as six times) and many were on hand over the weekend to celebrate the honouring of their favourite staff and it all made for a rather exciting and purposeful outing!

With communications consultant, the charming Sonia Rickards, at the helm of it all, y'all know we are talking one happening weekend here! And it was all ably led by the resort's new general manager, Stefan Gonzales, and his absolutely gorgeous wife, Viviana Betancur Gonzales, along with his senior managers, advisors and directors.

Among the notables spotted were: Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett; opposition spokesman Dr Wykeham McNeil and his wife, the lovely Sheila Benjamin McNeil, and their children, Jordan and Ashleigh; director general in the tourism ministry, Carrole Guntley; Custos of Hanover David Stair and his wife; Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association president, Wayne Cummings; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda and her daughter, Valentina Gonzalez Rueda; Mark Hart; Godfrey Dyer and his lovely wife, Odette; Dennis Morrison; jurist Lloyd Perkins; Dr Blossom O'Mealy Nelson, her son, Tal Stokes and his lovely wife, Denise; Guy Morris and the lovely Beryl Francis; Lloyd Tomlinson and his wife; Aston Cooke and wife; Paul East and his wife; Dollis Campbell; Calvin Brown and wife; Clive Taffe; the charming Pauline Reid; Anthony Hall and Camille Brodber; June Deer; the charming RoseMarie Johnson; Margarett Jones; Khary Brown and his wife; the charming Cindy Lightbourne; Winston McKane and his wife; Deborah Martin; Charles Hyatt Jr.; Carol Rose Brown; Garcia Merchant; Tessmaria Leon; Trevion Manning and his wife; Garth Ramsay and wife; Rev Courtney Walters and wife; Joan Harley; Theo Chambers and wife; Julian Templier; Micheal Bridge; Armando Gonzalez and his lovely wife; Pablo Ampudia; David Martin; Jackie Brodber; Melissa Brown; Radcliffe Robertson; Fabian Ortiz; Christian Serrra; Rodney Simms, and many others.