By MICHAEL BAGINSKI
Two well-known names in hotels have combined to bring a stylish new option to Jamaica’s capital, Kingston. The AC Hotel Kingston is owned by Sandals’ Stewart family, but operates under AC Hotels by Marriott, the hotelier’s “forward thinking” lifestyle brand, designed to be sophisticated yet unpretentious.
The brand was founded in 1998 in Spain and brought into the Marriott International portfolio in 2011, launching globally in locations including France, Denmark, the U.S., Latin America, Puerto Rico and now, Jamaica.
AC Hotels’ innovative nature is based on a philosophy of “questioning,” according to hotel GM Koen Hietbrink, who has spent 14 years in leadership positions with Marriott and has led the openings of numerous Marriott properties in the Caribbean. “Why does a hotel have to have a conventional restaurant? Why does every hotel have to have to have a large pool on the roof?” he says. “We question things. We believe in experiences and the bringing together of people. The AC brand is about lifestyle, it’s about exploration.”
Located in heart of Kingston, 18 km and about 30 minutes from the airport, the hotel is situated in the city’s business district but also close to attractions like the Bob Marley Museum, Hope Gardens and Devon House, and with balcony views of both Kingston Harbour and the Blue Mountains. “So, our hotel offers that mix to travellers,” says Hietbrink. “If they’re there for business, they can do their business, but also take extra time to discover (the city). We’re built in the middle of Kingston, with the message to guests, saying, ‘Come and explore.’ Explore the hotel, but also come and explore Kingston and meet Kingstonians, and learn about where you’ve travelled to and where you’re staying.”
The debut of the hotel is welcome news to Jamaican tourism officials who are eager to promote Kingston as more than just a place for business travel.
“The debut of a brand like AC Hotels in Kingston will solidify the city’s status as a strong city tourism destination,” says tourism minister Edward Bartlett.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association president Omar Robinson notes that the island’s new north-south highway offers the opportunity for visitors to much more easily get to know Kingston while combining it with a resort stay on the north coast.
“Annual events such as Carnival, boys and girls athletic championships, the Kingston City Marathon, food festivals, fashion shows and an active nightlife, keep Kingston throbbing,” he says.
Visitors, including Canadians, can also fly directly to Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport.
Importantly, the hotel marks the first city hotel for the high-profile owners of Sandals Resorts International, whose holdings on the island (and in the Caribbean) include Sandals and Beaches resorts and the Island Routes tour company.
“My family and I are determined to play our part in building the economy in the Caribbean,” says Adam Stewart, deputy chairman of SRI and ATL Group of Companies.
“This is a monumental occasion as we venture beyond the beach to establish our first AC Hotel by Marriott. We are excited to work with a global company like Marriott International, while retaining the local Jamaican touch for guests visiting the city.”
In addition to 219 rooms, each with a mini fridge and smart TV, the hotel offers guests a spacious 24-hour fitness centre; outdoor pool; the brand’s signature AC Kitchen, which provides a daily European-inspired breakfast buffet infused with a taste of Jamaica; and the AC Lounge, which offers a chic, open and comfortable ambiance for co-working and socializing.
The hotel design includes elegant, clean lines that are signature features of the brand, along with touches that reflect Jamaica’s vibrant flair, such as works crafted by Jamaican artists and one-of-a-kind furnishings that have also been locally made spread throughout the hotel.
The hotel is also equipped with over 1,670 sq. m. of leading-edge meeting and banquet facilities, making it the largest meeting space in the city, capable of catering to up to 600 guests.
The hotel is the second AC Hotel by Marriott in the region (the other is the San Juan Condado) and guests can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Points when staying at the property.