RIU celebrating 25-years of growth, partnership and confidence in Jamaica

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Over the past 25 years, RIU has evolved from a new entrant in the Jamaica’s tourism market into one of the country’s most significant tourism partners, helping to strengthen the industry while contributing to national development. 

The Spanish hotel chain last Thursday (June 18) celebrated 25-years in Jamaica with the milestone providing an opportunity not only to reflect on RIU’s growth but also on the broader role tourism continues to play in shaping the country’s future. Through thousands of jobs, partnerships with local suppliers and support for transportation providers, farmers, artisans and small businesses, RIU has helped create economic opportunities for countless Jamaican families.

Against that backdrop, Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness, speaking at the 25thanniversary function, acknowledged that RIU’s 25-year presence on the island demonstrates the importance of tourism, investment and long-term partnerships in national development, citing the commitment demonstrated by RIU employees in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa last October as one of the clearest examples of the industry’s importance to the country.

Staff committed to quality service

According to the Prime Minister, “staff of the RIU hotel stayed with visitors during the passage of the hurricane to ensure their safety and the protection of life and property while their own homes were under distress. It shows the commitment of the Jamaican people to the tourism industry, and I commend the Jamaican workers for that.”

While the anniversary celebrated RIU’s achievements, Holness said it also highlighted Jamaica’s ability to compete successfully in an increasingly competitive global economy, as 25 years ago, RIU had many expansion options but chose Jamaica as its investment destination.

That continued confidence, he argued, demonstrates that Jamaica can hold its own on the international stage. Noting that tourists, investors, businesses and skilled workers are often influenced by the same considerations when choosing where to spend their time, money and expertise, Dr. Holness remarked, “a tourist chooses where to spend a vacation, an investor chooses where to place capital, a business chooses where to establish operations, a skilled worker chooses where to build a career and a family chooses where to build a future.” 

In each case, he said, “the decision is influenced by remarkably similar considerations. Is the place safe? Is it welcoming? Is it well-governed? Is it connected? Is it efficient? Does it offer an opportunity? Does it inspire confidence?

In conclusion, he contended that countries that succeed are those that become a destination of choice, saying, “Whatever we do, Jamaica must become and continue to be a destination of choice.”

Confidence and long-term commitment

For his part, Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, building on that theme of confidence and long-term commitment, described RIU’s presence as one of the most significant and enduring tourism partnerships in modern Jamaican history. “What started as a single hotel investment on the shores of Bloody Bay has grown into one of the most significant and lasting tourism partnerships in Jamaica’s modern history…Who knew back in 2001, when the Riu Palace Tropical Bay opened in Negril, that we were `witnessing the dawn of a renaissance” Bartlett asked.

He said RIU was the first Spanish hotel company to make Jamaica a major focus of its Caribbean expansion at a time when the island was seeking to strengthen and diversify its tourism product adding, “These are the factors that attract visitors. They are also the factors that attract investments and they are increasingly the factors that determine the movement of talent and people across the world. The countries that succeed are those that become a destination of choice. Whatever we do, Jamaica must become and continue to be a destination of choice.”