The newest Half Moon property is finally here.
In a recent meeting, Guy Steuart III was philosophical in describing his latest project. “We’re in the memory-making business,” he said. “Hotels can feel like suspended reality, but things happen there that are significant and enduring. That’s what we do at Half Moon.”
The chairman of the iconic resort development, just outside Montego Bay, sat down with Travel + Leisure to discuss the upcoming opening of Eclipse: a 57-room luxury property that officially welcomes guests starting March 1. This contemporary addition to Half Moon represents, in some ways, the next era for this Jamaican stalwart — but, Steuart stresses, Eclipse is true to its roots.
“My family has been the owners since Half Moon’s inception in 1954,” said Steuart. “I represent the third generation. When a resort has been operating for this long, with this reputation, things wear out and things evolve.” With Eclipse, Steuart hopes to offer a new experience that complements Half Moon’s existing properties: Founders Cove, the original old-school Caribbean accommodations built in the 1950s, and Rose Hall Villas, exclusive-use bungalows popular with families and large groups. Still, he said, “We have a lot of stories, so part of our initiative is to draw that out of our history.”
Eclipse has been in the works for years, but the first real change was made behind the scenes. “We opened a new back-of-house facility in October 2017,” Steuart told T+L. The top of the line facilities, he said, is essential for creating a good work environment for the staff who keep Half Moon running. “We have over 900 people, almost all Jamaican, working for us. We owe it to them. And we want to provide resources for the best and brightest in the industry.”
Over the course of several years, Steuart worked with the hotel group, Salamander Hotels & Resorts, and architecture and design firm Hart Howerton to envision what the next chapter for Half Moon should look like. 26 buildings were torn down, and 20 acres redeveloped. “Ultimately, we wanted to reimagine what hospitality looks like for the next 60 years,” he said, “and to be relevant to the next generation of travelers. To build something new, you can’t window dress what you had before. You really have to start from the bones.”
Read more at Travel & Leisure.