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The first staging of the Half Moon/Glamour DMC MICE Destination Showcase was a tremendous success!
Over 20 group organizers and journalists jetted into Jamaica from the USA, Canada, UK and Netherlands for 4 days of activities showcasing Jamaica and Half Moon. Participants were given a first-hand experience of what goes into staging a group event at the 400-acre luxury resort, and from all accounts, everyone’s expectation was exceeded.
Here is a snapshot of the experience that Brian Martenis, Managing Director of Incentive Worldwide Travel, simply called “magical.” |
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DAY 1: HIT THE GROUND RUNNING!
After a quick 15 minute transfer from the Half Moon Airport Lounge, located at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, participants jumped right into action with a delectable lunch presentation on Half Moon and Glamour DMC services, followed by a tour of our 400 acre property. |
Villa 83 - one of the villas occupied
by participants
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The group was accommodated in the Royal Villas at
Half Moon. Each villa is set within the backdrop of beautiful gardens and the Caribbean Sea. These luxurious villas feature
5 to 7 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a private butler, cook and housekeeper, two golf carts, a private pool and complimentary wi-fi internet access. |
Staff at Royal Villas
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Each day, a breakfast was prepared by the villa cook and everyone was pampered with personalized service provided by the butler and housekeeper in their Royal Villa. The gracious Royal Villa staff is known for their impeccable skills to meet the needs of large groups at
Half Moon. |
Welcome event at Oleander Terrace |
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The welcome reception was held at the picturesque Oleander Terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Themed Jamaica Harvest Time Feast the décor featured bandanas, local fruits and vegetables, baskets, a donkey with a pull-cart and banana trees with different food stations displaying the diversity of our local cuisine. The Half Moon ambiance is enough to satisfy even the largest appetites. |
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DAY 2: LET THE FUN BEGIN! |
Participants on horseback before swimming with the horses |
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The second day started out with a very memorable morning horseback beach ride. This truly unique experience saw the group riding from the stables of the Equestrian Centre to Sunrise Beach, dismounting, changing into swimwear, removing the horses’ saddle and going into the sea for a swim with their new best friend. |
Participants entering the Caribbean
Sea for a swim on horseback |
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Matthew Green from the UK
gliding along the zip-line at Chukka Adventure |
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Getting their first real taste off-site, participants were taken to the Chukka Caribbean Adventure and Canopy Tour in Montego Bay. Described as the closest you will ever feel like to be a jungle bird, the canopy tour at Chukka Adventure is an amazing experience of gliding silently through a tunnel of trees. There is no better way to bond with the people around you and to truly experience and learn to appreciate Jamaica’s natural beauty. |
Participants enjoying the Dolphin
Lagoon with resident trainer |
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After the group returned to Half Moon, they participated in a dolphin excursion at Half Moon’s Dolphin Lagoon. Touching, swimming, shaking their hands- sorry fins- are just some of the experiences the participants had with Miguel and Bruno, Half Moon’s resident dolphins. Participants enjoyed our dolphins in magnificence but also appreciated the privacy our premises offers. Then it was off to Fern Tree, The Spa at Half Moon for an afternoon of yoga stretches, spa treatments and a consultation lecture session with Spa Elder, Stella Gray. |
Team Faith’s Pen which included Half Moon’s Deputy Managing Director, Peter Kellond as well as planners from Canada emerged the evening’s winner with their “A Duck-n Nice Rack” dish |
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Day 2 Private Event
Theme: Villa Cook Off
Location: Villa 83 Lawn
Our newest team building innovation, the “Villa Cook Off”, was introduced on day two. The group was divided into teams of seven with each team given a mystery basket of five items to make one meal for 35 persons. Most teams were headed by leaders of Half Moon, namely, Richard Whitfield our Managing Director, Peter Kellond, Deputy Managing Director, Shernette Crichton, Hotel Manager and Myrtle Dwyer Director of Sales and Marketing. With two hours to prepare a meal, teams were judged on taste, presentation, kitchen organization and cleanliness, originality and the use of mystery ingredients by our Executive Chefs. It is truly amazing what people can “stir up” when they exchange creative ideas and strategically work together. |
Team leaders checking out the common table |
Team Middle Quarters discussing the concept of their dish |
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DAY 3: JAMAICA NO PROBLEM! |
 Tour guide at the Rose Hall Great House explaining its history
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Day three began with yoga on the beach. This set the tone for an entire day off-property with Glamour DMC in Ocho Rios. However, before getting to their final destination the group visited the Rose Hall Great House, in Montego Bay, for a tour of this popular and historic landmark. |
Participants taking a break in one of the plunge pools along the Dunn’s River Falls |
One of Jamaica’s most popular visitor attractions, the stunning Dunn’s River Falls is excellent for team building. Formed naturally in the river rocks, the waterfall that is gentle in some places and thunderous in others, had participants climbing from the beach right to the top of the falls - helping each other along the way. This group accurately demonstrated the triumphant ability of individuals to build effective teams. |
One of the participants preparing to take a swing |
Final Night Events:
Theme: Night Golf & Cocktails and Farewell Dinner
Location: 19th Hole Bar, Half Moon Golf Course and Il Giardino Restaurant
After a day in Ocho Rios the group returned to Half Moon for cocktails at the 19th Hole Bar, followed by Night Golf with glow balls - under the guidance of our Director of Golf Ewan Peebles -
on the Half Moon Golf Course.
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Inside the Il Giardino Restaurant |
The inaugural Half Moon/Glamour DMC MICE Destination Showcase climaxed with dinner at Half Moon’s Italian restaurant, Il Giardino. Participants sampled the culinary delight of Half Moon’s Executive Chef, with a menu of Oven Baked Fillet of Chilean Sea Bass with Parmesan Crust and Veal Scaloppine with Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce. Not only were they blown away by the food on their plates, but also by the elegance of Il Giardino and its ability to transport you to Venice in the middle of the Caribbean. |
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DAY 4: LEAVING PARADISE! |
Villa 51 staff and guests before departure |
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Everyone took the final day to relax and unwind before leaving paradise. Those who had a later flight were treated to a Shopping and Highlight Tour of Montego Bay. This group clearly learned how to be more effective, efficient and achieve results while at the same time having lots of fun! It was mutually understood among the group that Half Moon is a wonderful place for meeting and team building. |
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FEEDBACK
Overall, it was a great trip and I am truly glad I took the time to experience the resort and all it has to offer. It should be an easy sell now. I'm on the prowl for the perfect group. Thank you so much for including me.
- Maureen Clark, Account Executive, HRG North America
Had a very good time and was delighted with the resort. Looking forward to selling the property to our customers. Very impressed with the Director of Golf and the overall improvements at the golf course. Hats off to the management team at Half Moon for putting together a professional team. I thought that attention and service levels on site were really good.
- Ian Dawson, Senior Director of Marketing, Merit Travel Group
My favourite part of the experience was the horseback riding! Swimming with the horses was something I know I will NEVER have the chance to do again. It was unreal! The food was amazing, the villa's were very comfortable. The Villa Cook Off was a total hit!
- Meg Sweeney, Senior Account Executive, Yellow House Events
One of the best accommodation experiences I've ever encountered. The Royal Villas and all the staff associated with them were top class and very welcoming; helped to make you feel at home the minute you walk through the door. I thought the standard of food throughout the resort was excellent and it was good to see this at all food outlets. Every member of staff I encountered couldn’t do enough to help during my stay. Everyone was genuinely happy and there to help if it was needed.
- European participant
I would like to express how grateful I was to be a part of this showcase. It exceeded my expectations. The entire staff was wonderful, and the property is breathless.
- Marian Jackson, Consultant, Our Gang Travel
I realize that the Half Moon Resort is not only for a golfers group, but even more for meetings and team building reunions. The fact that the resort is able to offer all the activities we did on the property is super! The Dolphin and cook out activities were excellent! Half Moon is one of a kind and needs to be seen for sure.
- Isabelle Beauchamp, Director of Meetings and Incentives, Voyages Gendron |
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SAVE THE DATE
2010 Half Moon & Glamour DMC MICE Destination Showcase
September 21-25, 2010
About Half Moon
Half Moon is a luxury resort situated on crescent-shaped white sand beaches, with 398 rooms including suites, cottages and villas. In addition to luxurious accommodations, Half Moon also features a renovated Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole golf course, 13 lit tennis courts, equestrian centre, fitness centre, superb cuisine, 54 swimming pools, over 27,000 square feet of flexible indoor meeting space, a Dolphin Lagoon, 24-hour medical centre and more. Award-winning Fern Tree, The Spa at Half Moon features beachfront spa suites, water sculptures, hydrotherapy swimming pools, yoga pavilions, and therapeutic/healing spa treatments.
About Glamour DMC
Glamour Destination Management Company, located in the business district of Ironshore Estate, has an expert cadre of meeting and event specialists to make team building events, product launches, corporate retreats, beach fun days and other activities a seamless experience. Glamour DMC is well rehearsed having offered these services to its large international and local clientele, and has an extensive fleet of vehicles to transport its clients in the lap of luxury. In addition to event planning, the experienced staff members at Glamour Destination Management are specialists in destination weddings, tours, excursions and much more.
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