Above: the Azul Sensatori in Negril

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Azul Sensatori Negril resort has officially opened in Negril, Jamaica.

The property, one of six Sensatori resorts owned and managed by Karisma around the world, is hte first of the group to open in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The property is being operated as a partnership between Karisma Hotels and tour operator TUI Holiday PLC.

“Our partnership with TUI has grown from strength to strength and as Europe’s largest tour company they have multiplied the number of seats into Jamaica and now they are complementing that arrangement with the opening of their premium brand hotel which will provide additional rooms,” said Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill. “This investment also comes at a time when we are seeing market response to our visa relaxation initiatives and when air-lift to Jamaica is arguably the best it’s ever been.”

This week saw the official opening of the property, which had a soft opening at the end of 2013.

The 136-room property includes a 54-room-and-suite adults-only section. It has six restaurants and five bars.

“Your success at the London 2012 Olympics has helped to re-awaken Jamaica as a destination, in particular for our UK customers, where this year we will see some 100,000 of those customers coming to the island, a 60% increase year-on-year,” said TUI Travel PLC CEO Peter Long. “Being able to offer not only a wonderful destination but an unrivalled flight experience on our Boeing 787’s is putting Jamaica high on the wish list for our customers. In fact, Thomson Airways operates more direct flights to Jamaica than any other European airline – five times a week.”