33 years and counting

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Without a doubt, the Issa family has been at the forefront of the hotel and hospitality industry not just in Jamaica, but also the region! And it all began with the late Abe Issa, who so understood the culture of celebrity and its import as a spin- off and attraction and used it as a tool to transform Jamaica's fledgling tourist industry to a preferred destination.

From the legendary Myrtle Bank in downtown Kingston that in its heyday was a beacon of fabulousness, attracting the world's rich and famous and the leading citizenry, Issa was light years ahead of his contemporaries in marketing savvy and understanding of the tourism product.

So when the late Issa decided on creating an all-inclusive resort for couples only out in the rural village of Tower Isle, St Mary, charting his course for success, others stood on the sidelines questioning his mental acuity and business sense.

Today, Couples Tower Isle is a testament to the labours of a visionary who created the groundwork for Jamaica's first chain of resorts and a family dynasty.

Annual birthday party

Today, Couple's Resorts is primarily driven by its core of repeat guests, at the heart which is the annual birthday party hosted in mid-January each year to celebrate the opening of the resort and say thanks to the guests.

On Saturday, January 17, the heirs and successors of the late Issa joined the management and staff of Couples Tower Isle for the 33rd anniversary celebrations and dear hearts, what a celebration it was!

It rained buckets but this is traditionally a celebration and rain was not going to dampen the spirits of those in attendance.

The evening began with a cocktails and a battery of waiters and waitresses served some potently fabulous tropical concoctions while trays laden with an exciting array of finger foods danced through the bustling crowd!

Cocktails were followed by dinner and, honeys, it was a feast of royal proportions. We are talking Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Jamaican, game, lobster, shrimp, crab, salmon, herring, spare-ribs, steaks, pork, an offering of a salad-station boasting every conceivable salad there is; a bread station, a cheese station that was to die for; and pastries that made you sing!

And then there was the pre- and post-dinner entertainment - a culturama, showcasing the very best of the island in traditional and contemporary music, song and dance that was as entertaining as it was awe-inspiring!

The in-house band, Fusion and the lovely Keddy-Ann Baston, who sang her heart out as she entertained in flawless mode; as well as the Children of the Drums - whose Carib-Afrocentric performance included offerings from the pocomania and kumina, were all top class. The showmanship and foot-stomping entertainment of Dwight Richards and Friends' electrifying performance got the guests on their dancing feet.

It was a most fitting way to honour guests and a most fitting anniversary for the landmark resort, with host, General Manager Leonard Henry, putting on a great show as he not only entertained, but wowed his guests in the finest fashion!

Guests

Among the leading personalities out for the celebrations were: Carole Issa Cartade and husband Robert Cartade; her sibling the lovely Suzanne Issa; Anthony and Jeanne Watson and their son James; Robert MacMillan and the lovely Rachael Gore; his sibling the absolutely talented and beautiful artist Judy-Ann MacMillan, also out; as were: Onesto Maffisanti; Peter and Annabella Proulock; Media personality, the affable Simon Crosskill and his companion, the beautiful April McNeill; Len and Linda Sherman, in from Boston; the very charming Sandra Butler; Anthony Issa and his beautiful wife Cindy Issa, in from Florida for the event; Joey and Asha Issa; her brother-in-law and sister, Bobby and Indu Chandiram.

Also out were: John Marcocchio; Clay Parks and wife, the lovely Iona Wynter-Parks; Greg Chong; the fab looking Sally Roper; Richie Sinclair; Andrew and Caroline Grant; Dean Burrowes; Dave and Mary Crook, from New Hamshire, and guesting from the sister property of San Souci Couples.

Representing the Couples Resorts, were: CEO Couples Resorts, the affable Glenn Lawrence; Vice-president Operations Gary Stephens; Group public relations doyenne, the charmingly lovely Alexandra Ghisays; general manager of Couples Sans Souci, Pierre Bataglia, fresh from his own anniversary celebrations the evening before; and operations manager of Couples Sans Souci, Kyle Mais; plus many others.