MoBay’s Hip Strip set to be transformed under BID initiative
Published:Friday | January 10, 2025 | 12:13 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay’s iconic Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, popularly known as the Hip Strip, is poised for a major transformation.
Mayor Richard Vernon announced plans to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) during a ceremony celebrating the S Hotel’s recognition as the number one all-inclusive hotel in Jamaica for 2025 by the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards on Wednesday night.
The BID initiative will aim to address critical concerns such as infrastructure upgrades, waste and public-health management, and enhanced security measures, ensuring that the Hip Strip becomes “the best strip in the Caribbean”, the MoBay mayor said.
Vernon underscored the importance of aligning the boulevard’s appeal with the excellence of its top-tier hotels such as S Hotel.
“The best all-inclusive hotel should have the best strip,” Vernon declared, outlining a vision for a vibrant and welcoming space for both visitors and locals.
The proposal, supported by 80 per cent of the area’s business operators, will empower stakeholders to manage and maintain the district, creating a premier experience for tourists.
The legal framework for the BID is currently being finalised, with plans to seek approval from the Ministry of Local Government. Once implemented, the initiative promises to bolster Montego Bay’s reputation as the crown jewel of the Caribbean.
The announcement came as the tourism capital celebrated the S Hotel’s second consecutive win as Jamaica’s top all-inclusive hotel. The property also ranks as the second-best all-inclusive hotel in the Caribbean, a testament to its ability to blend luxury with authentic Jamaican culture.
Vernon praised the S Hotel for its innovative approach to hospitality.
“I’m not surprised that S Hotel was voted the best in Jamaica. They have boldly embraced the culture of Jamaica, enhanced it, and endorsed it,” he remarked.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
The hotel’s distinctive features, from décor highlighting Jamaican icons like Clarks shoes and vinyl records to its lively dancehall-inspired spaces, offer an immersive cultural experience that resonates with guests from around the world.
Not the only Jamaican resort in the top 10 list, the S shares the spotlight with Sunset at the Palms Negril in fourth position; the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara, another Montego Bay resort, in sixth place; and Sandals Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios in seventh place.
Vernon also emphasised the pivotal role of Jamaicans in the country’s tourism success.
Reflecting on a conversation with a tourist during his travels, he noted: “The people – they are our asset. That’s the reason we’re able to be voted number one at the airport, at the hotels, wherever you are.”
The mayor’s comments were bolstered by S Hotel CEO Christopher Issa, who boasted that it is managed by an all-Jamaican staff.
“This function tonight is to recognise our very hard-working team, which has been able to offer a [high] level of service in a very special property,” Issa said.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is crediting top-performing hotels like S Montego Bay for Jamaica’s impressive tourism recovery. Despite two consecutive quarters of negative growth, the island is ending the year a remarkable 0.5 per cent better than its best year ever, he told the large gathering from the Montego Bay business community.
Jamaica’s tourism industry has been breaking records, with a 9.6 per cent increase in gross earnings, reaching US$4.38 billion, and a 9.4 per cent increase in stopover arrivals, totalling 2.96 million.
The country is also seeing a significant boost in repeat business, with an impressive 42 per cent of visitors returning, the highest rate in the world.