Groundbreaking for New Lucea Palladium Hotel set for Feb 18
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:24 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
Groundbreaking for the new Palladium Hotel in Lucea, Hanover, is scheduled for February 18, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.
The Gleaner has learned that the 900-room luxury hotel will be constructed at a cost of over US$300 million. In addition to its 900 rooms, the project will feature a golf course, an entertainment centre, and a convention centre. Additionally, 600 housing units will be built to accommodate hotel workers.
The Palladium is one of three new Spanish hotel projects set to break ground in Jamaica this year. The other two include a 1,000-room facility in Runaway Bay, St Ann, developed by Bahia Principe; and a 700-room project in Richmond, St Ann, by Secrets Resorts.
The Runaway Bay project will include not only 1,000 new rooms but also a fisherman’s village, a PGA golf course, schools, and entertainment facilities. Meanwhile, the Richmond, St Ann, project by Secrets Resorts is expected to employ approximately 2,000 people.
Groundbreaking for the two additional hotels is planned for the first half of this year. The Gleaner has been informed that all necessary environmental and regulatory studies have been completed to facilitate the commencement of these projects.
Minister Bartlett signed agreements with the three Spanish investors totalling approximately US$2.2 billion for these tourism developments while in Madrid, Spain, last year. According to him, the total investment will generate around 20,000 new jobs in construction and tourism services.
Providing an update on the projects late last year, Minister Bartlett stated that all three developments are progressing. He mentioned that environmental impact studies had been conducted, and investors would be holding town hall meetings with residents in the affected communities to provide details and gather feedback.
Additionally, Minister Bartlett announced plans for a new 1,000-room Viva Wyndham hotel in Negril, though he did not disclose further details about this project.
The expectation is that all three developments will be completed and ready for occupancy by the 2026/2027 tourism season.
Meanwhile, Minister Bartlett and his tourism team will be in New York from February 26-27 for a media blitz. The diaspora market accounts for approximately 10 per cent of Jamaica’s visitors, with the majority coming from the United States.
“The diaspora is an important part of our overall marketing strategy, and we will continue to invest in outreach within the community,” Minister Bartlett said.