The story between RIU Hotels and Jamaica was forged in the late 90's, when he became interested in the destination after the first visits that representatives of the chain made to Jamaican land. Following its instinct to undertake new developments, the company opted to invest in Jamaica when no European operator still believed in the destination. RIU managed to see the enormous potential of the island, which resides in its natural beauty and its beaches, but above all in its culture and the charisma of its people. Since the opening of the Riu Tropical Bay, 17 years ago, the commitment that RIU has made for the island has continued to grow to become one of its main destinations in the Caribbean with six hotels, 3152 rooms, 2779 employees, more than 330,000 guests per year and an accumulated investment of more than 550 million dollars, which includes the 35 million investment in the reform of the Riu Palace Tropical Bay.
The changes in the hotel are especially noticeable in the lobby, a space that has gained both brightness, thanks to the large windows, and in sense of spaciousness, due to the radical change that has occurred in the use of colors, the entrance of natural light and the use of a simpler and more modern style, in addition to having large pieces of art and murals. Added to the gleaming white marble of the floor, the blue tones of the furniture combine perfectly with the beige color of the columns, generating a cozy feeling of luxury and tranquility to the guests.
The Riu Palace Tropical Bay now has 452 rooms whose new style combines the classic sophistication of the Riu Palace range with furniture with simple lines and light tones, combined with turquoise elements. All bathtubs have also been replaced by large walk-in showers, for the convenience of customers.
Another new feature of the hotel is the incorporation of the RiuLand children's club into the children's area, designed for the little ones to enjoy their holidays to the fullest. In this area there is also a pool for them, bigger than the previous one, and a playground. The hotel also has three large outdoor swimming pools, of which one has a swim-up bar, and a complete and renovated gym, as well as a spa area also renovated.
In terms of restaurants, all of them have been renovated and presented with a contemporary design in tune with the rest of the areas: the main restaurant, 'Negril', will continue offering varied buffets and live cooking; the best fusion cuisine dishes are served at the 'Krystal' restaurant; the restaurant 'Rimini' prepares a wide buffet of Italian specialties; the best of Japanese cuisine is available in the restaurant 'Hakuchi'; and the restaurant of pool serves for the dinners the classic dishes of the Steakhouse of RIU, favorite among the clients. As for the bars, in addition to having completely renovated them and offering the 24 Hours service in the Lobby bar and in the Lounge bar, the hotel adds to its offer the new ice cream shop and cafeteria 'Capuchino'.
Grupo RIU has an ambitious expansion plan for the next five years, with a strong commitment to new destinations, especially in Asia, and major cities in the world where it plans to implement its Riu Plaza urban hotels. The hotel chain, with more than 65 years of history, is characterized by a strong commitment to the destinations where it is based, investing in long-term projects that involve the local community through its purchasing, employment and sustainability policies. RIU is also making a large investment in the evolution and improvement of an increasingly sustainable operation, and all its projects are governed by respect for the environment, and the local environment and culture.