SANDALS RESORTS International is to add a seventh hotel to its expanding chain. The new hotel will be called Beaches Whitehouse and will be based in Westmoreland. Construction and development costs have been placed at US$60 million.

Owner and developer, Newtown Development Company said that during construction, the site will employ over 600 workers and when opened to the general public, will employ over 400 people.

Construction work will begin next month with completion earmarked for March 2003.

Yesterday saw the signing of a joint venture agreement for the construction of the hotel between Sandals Resorts International and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC). The UDC has agreed to put up US$10 million while the National Investment Bank of Jamaica (NIBJ) has agreed to put US$15 million into the construction and development of the hotel. Sandals Resorts has already put up US$3.75 million for infrastructural work and will be injecting a further US$5 million in new cash. The remainder will be financed by borrowing.

Beaches Whitehouse is set on approximately 40 acres of wooded land at Parker`s Bay, Westmoreland.

The hotel design was developed to offer expanded facilities to families, singles and couples 16 years and over, and is arranged around two central areas. The resort site will be developed to retain much of the natural vegetation and all areas of the local environment.
Sandals International chairman Gordon `Butch` Stewart, speaking at the signing of the joint venture yesterday, said: “This will be the most environmentally friendly hotel in the Caribbean.”

Beaches Whitehouse will offer a total of 360 rooms. The rooms will be furnished with plantation styled furniture crafted by Jamaican craftsmen.

The new hotel will offer 24 suites, 48 junior suites and 288 standard rooms, 5 restaurants, 6 full service bars and a conference facility that accommodates between 250 and 300 persons.

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