Melia Braco dishes out the real J’can culture
WESTERN BUREAU: OCUSED ON creating unique experiences, Melia Braco Resort, Trelawny, delivered on its commitment to raising the bar in the tourism industry by setting new standards at their Independence celebration last weekend.
With a packed house of foreigners and locals, Melia Braco showcased the richest aspects of the Jamaican culture, giving its guests front-row seats to the island’s iconic attractions, its food, fashion, topography, music and customs.
The resort, which boasts a Georgian-inspired architectural town square, constructed replicas of Fern Gully, a waterfall depicting the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls, a corner shop stocked with bun and cheese, ‘tin mackerel’, Red Stripe and Guinness, with men playing dominoes close by and a
Ftyrant washerwoman, washing and hanging her clothes for the town to see. Handing a large slice of the Jamaican culture on a platter, guests’ expectations were exceeded. Led by General Manager Dimitris Kosvogiannis, the hotel team took the country’s Independence celebration to the apex.
Heralded by the George Washington Marching Band, dressed in the black, green and gold, the group opened with the country’s national anthem, a precursor to the a host of Jamaican Festival hit songs that followed, one after the other.
A steel band added flavour to the event, and was a welcome addition to the adaptation of the Trinidadian culture. Their performance was bolstered by Dance Xpressions, ‘dancehall at its best’, and Ashe’s folkloric presentation.
The big-bottom mama, stilt walkers and reggae artiste Romain Virgo complemented an evening that will remain etched in the memories of guests for years to come. “We give you more, we give a new approach to life, higher benchmarks of service and quality,” Kosvogiannis told Hospitality Jamaica.
According to the hotelier, “Independence stands to remind us that we are a nation that breaks records, barriers and resiliently overcomes challenges. We want our guests to appreciate not the cut-and-paste all-inclusive package, but a true Jamaican experience, a flash moment of Jamaican life”.
Proud of his team’s achievement, Kosvogiannis said Melia has committed to raising the bar in the industry, and, together with this property, set new standards for the country as a destination.
“We aim to break the glass ceiling in all aspects; in training, food preparation, quality of products, and engagement of the local economy by forging relationships with small farming entities that seek to elevate and progress,” said.
At the same time, he said they were proudly Jamaican. “At Melia,