By Alexander Britell

Kingston’s Spanish Court is expanding to Montego Bay, and the long-awaited hotel is now planning a fall debut.

The property, which had initially been known as the Spanish Court, will now be launched as the S Hotel Montego Bay, with plans to open “late fall,” according to a statement.

The 120-room property is the brainchild of Chris Issa and Crissa Hotels, best known for the Spanish Court and the Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records in Montego Bay.

“This project is about how the life of a hotel can support a city,” Issa said.

The hip new Jamaica hotel aims to inject serious cool into Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, something that could be part of a bigger push to add more EP hotels to what has traditionally been an all-inclusive hub.

The property’s interiors are designed by Jamaica native Alison Antrobus of Miami’s Antrobus Ramirez design firm.

A spa suite bathroom.

Highlights will range from the Mediterranean-inspired beach club to a signature sky suite with 20-foot ceilings and a loft bedroom.

The S Hotel will also feature flex meeting and event space, a resort boutique featuring designs by local designers and concierge service offering tours and excursions.

A rendering of the project.

The hotel’s signature restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with “artisanal Jamaican and international cuisine,” while the property will also feature a special Sky Bar and Lounge exclusively for Sky Club Suite guests.

The Ska Cafe will feature coffee and juices, while the property will also feature a library and a daily-changing music playlist.

While the name is different, the property very much remains an extension of the Spanish Court, which has turned into New Kingston’s epicenter of cool, led by its terrific rooftop bar and restaurant.

The Spanish Court in Kingston.

The S Hotel is part of what has become a wave of chic new hotel debuts in Jamaica, from the Cliff in Negril to the recent debut of the Skylark in Negril. The latter is the sister property to Jamaica’s Rockhouse boutique hotel.

It’s adding a new level of hip to the Hip Strip.

— CJ