Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, is pleased with the recent rebranding and unique ‘Bajan’ experience being offered to guests of The Rockley Hotel.
The hotel, previously known as South Beach Hotel, located on Rockley Main Road, Christ Church, was rebranded on March 27 of this year and is part of the Ocean Hotels Group.
During a recent guided tour of the property, Mr. Gooding-Edghill said he was pleased about the renovations made and the use of local “iconic imagery” in the interior decoration. He was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ocean Hotels Group, Patricia Affonso Dass; Operations Manager, Sherrita Sargeant; and Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Manager, Philip Brathwaite.
“I am very impressed by the signature Bajanism included throughout the décor of the property. It truly captures the essence of Barbados,” the Minister said.
He added that he was pleased about two initiatives that the hotel had implemented – “Dine and Sign” where hotel guests can dine at select local restaurants and have the charges added to their hotel bill, and staff being allowed to tour attractions and restaurants monthly and then creating signature tours or recommending the best spots to guests.
CEO Dass said the 49-room boutique hotel, with 24 staff members, offers an authentic experience through its décor, which incorporates Bajan sayings like ‘lickrish’ and ‘dah fuh lick ya’ on throw pillows, the island’s bus stop sign on furnishings and bathroom accessories, as well as other locally crafted features that represent Bajan culture.
Ms. Dass added that another unique feature of the hotel was an “Art for the People” gallery, where artwork from three local artists is displayed in the lobby and guests have the option to purchase the artwork. The three artists on display are rotated every three months, allowing the local talent the opportunity to be showcased.
“So, one of the things that we hold dear about the Ocean Hotels brand is that it’s all about celebrating the best about Barbados and highlighting those things that are really steeped in Barbados in a different way at each of our properties.
“So, the whole concept of using the iconic bus stop sign is kind of our jump off point and then incorporating loads of local images and sayings. And for the ‘Art for the People’ gallery, we wanted to use this space as an opportunity for artists who aren’t yet as well known to have an opportunity to showcase their work. And the whole idea is that it feels very kind of local,” Ms. Dass explained.