Hedonism Resorts

Hedonism II is an adults only vacation resort in Jamaica, owned and operated by Marshmallow Ltd, headed by Harry Lange and CEO Jon Gross of Unwind Travel and the lifestyle group The Fluffernutters.^[1] The resort has areas reserved for naturism and it is known for liberal sexual, drug,^[2] and alcohol attitudes; children are not allowed at the resorts. As of 2012, only Hedonism II is in operation. There was never a Hedonism I, and Hedonism III closed in 2010.

History

Hedonism II Nude Beach

Hedonism II opened in 1976 as "Negril Beach Village" and was given its current name in 1982. The resort was built by the Government of Jamaica at a cost of $10 million.^[3] The resort occupies 22 acres (89,000 m²) at the northern end of Negril beach and has 280 rooms in two-story buildings. A 50% interest in the hotel was bought by the SuperClubs in 1989.^[4] SuperClubs purchased the remaining 50% of the resort in 1999 from the Financial Sector Adjustment Company Limited (FINSAC),^[5] a unit of the Government of Jamaica, for $12.25 million.^[6] In November 2012, the resort was sold to Marshmallow Ltd headed by members of a lifestyle group called The Fluffernutters with a minority stock held by the Issa family^[7] and Kevin Levee, a 28-year employee of SuperClubs and the current general manager of the resort.^[8]

Hedonism III opened in 1999 in Runaway Bay. The resort was built on 10 acres (40,000 m²) and contained 225 rooms in 3-story buildings. On May 12, 2010, the company announced that Hedonism III would close in August 2010 to allow for the resort to be remodeled. The resort re-opened on October 14, 2010, as SuperFun Beach Resort and Spa^[9] catering to a wider market through additional tour operators. SuperFun Beach Resort entered receivership in March 2011 and closed in June 2011.^[10] While an adult-only resort, SuperFun did not allow topless or nude sunbathing but charged for premium liquor and motorized water sports. The property was leased to SuperClubs by the Development Bank of Jamaica.^[11] The hotel's first-ranked secured lenders are Caribbean Development Bank, PanCaribbean, and Development Bank of Jamaica.^[10]

The resort lives up to its reputation most during periods (notably January) when tour companies catering to swingers book huge blocks of rooms.

Controversies

Public nudity is illegal in Jamaica, but the laws are not enforced and may not apply inside the private resort. A nude wedding of eight couples in 2001 at Hedonism III caused protests by the government tourist office and radio talk show hosts, who called the event "improper and offensive." In February 2003, 29 couples were involved in another round of nude weddings at the Hedonism III resort.^[12] Hedonism resorts host nudist and swingers conventions. It has been alleged that open sex is common,^[13] including in the hot tubs at night.^[14] However, SuperClubs owner John Issa said that he was not aware of this.^[15]

Issa also declared that he was not running a "whorehouse" and that, to his knowledge, "whores are not working" in his Hedonism hotels.^[16] Issa sued two employees of Unique Vacations in Miami, Florida, over e-mails sent in 2007 and 2008 which he claimed contained "defamatory statements" about activities at Hedonism Resorts.^[17] Issa sought damages of an unspecified amount for what he feels are false and malicious statements.

Issa stated that he feels satisfied with Hedonism's image of "decadence and debauchery",^[18] and that he is "satisfied" with the idea expressed on his web site that "When it's good it's oh so good, and when it's bad it's even better and yes, everything you ever heard is true".^[19] John Issa was also alleged to have promoted bi-sexual activities at his Hedonism III resort.^[20]

In September 2009, Hedonism Resorts lost a WIPO trial against Relevansanalys^[21] related to the registration of the Internet domain name 'hedonismhotels.com'.

In popular culture

• In the "Dwight's Speech" episode of The Office, Kevin Malone suggests that Jim Halpert go to Hedonism for a vacation. He describes it as "like Club Med, but everything is naked."^[22]
• In 2010, comedian Daniel Tosh of Tosh.0 lampooned the antics of “Hedo Rick” in a viral video that featured an aging patron of Hedonism II parading in a speedo and promoting the wild women and sexual nature of the resort.^[23]
• In season 2, episode 10 of the show Workaholics, the main characters scramble to find a lost passport in an effort to spend their Thanksgiving at Hedonism II.

See also

• List of hotels in Jamaica

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hedonism resorts.

• Aerial view of Hedonism II
• Aerial view of Hedonism III
• Superclubs' Hedonism Resorts web site
• Hedonism II trip reports