Hedonism II and Hedonism III are vacation resorts in Jamaica, operated by SuperClubs. SuperClubs is the operating name of Village Resorts Ltd. The stock holders of Village Resorts Ltd. are John Issa, Hugh Hart (the former Jamaican government minister), Cargill Brown, Anthony Ferrari, David Rantz, Frank Hall, and Middle East Ventures, a Cayman company, which is the major stock holder and may (or may not) be owned by Aida Issa the wife of John Issa.[1] Both resorts have areas reserved for naturism/nudism and are known for liberal sexual, drug,[2] and alcohol attitudes; no children are allowed. There is no Hedonism I.
[edit] History
- Hedonism II
Hedonism II opened in 1976 as "Negril Beach Village" and took its current name in 1982. The resort was built by the Government of Jamaica at a cost of $10 million.[3] It is on 22 acres (89,000 m2) at the northern end of Negril beach and has 280 rooms (2-story buildings). A fifty percent (50%) interest in the hotel was taken by the SuperClubs in 1989.[4] The SuperClubs purchased the remaining fifty percent (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]
- Hedonism III
Hedonism III followed in 1999 in Runaway Bay. The resort was built on 10 acres (40,000 m2) and contained 225 rooms (3-story buildings). On May 12, 2010, it was 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[7] catering to a wider market through additional tour operators[8]. SuperFun Beach Resort entered receivership in March 2011 and closed in June 2011[9]. While an adult only resort, SuperFun did not allow topless or nude sunbathing but did charge for premium liquor and motorized water sports. The property was leased to SuperClubs by the Development Bank of Jamaica.[10] The hotels first-ranked secured lenders are Caribbean DevelopmentBank, PanCaribbean, and Development Bank of Jamaica[11].
[edit] Controversy
- 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 in Hedonism III caused protests by the government tourist office and radio talk show hosts, who called the event "improper and offensive." In February 2003 some of the 29 couples, all in the buff, were involved in another round of nude nuptials at the Hedonism III resort.[12]
- Hedonism resorts host nudist and swingers conventions.
- It has been alleged by some that open sex is common at Hedonism Resorts[13] including in the hot tubs at night.[14] However, SuperClubs owner John Issa has stated that he is not aware of this.[15] Mr. Issa has also declared that he was not running a "whorehouse" and that, to his knowledge, "whores are not working" in his Hedonism hotels as some have claimed.[16] Mr. Issa has gone to court in Miami, Florida, against two employees of Unique Vacations over e-mails sent in 2007 and 2008 which he claims contain "defamatory statements" about activities at Hedonism Resorts.[17] Mr. Issa is seeking compensatory damages of an unspecified amount for what he feels are false and malicious statements.
- Mr. Issa has stated that he feels satisfied with Hedonism's image of "decadence and debauchery"[18]. Issa has also stated 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].
- It has also been charged that John Issa has promoted bi-sexual activities at his Hedonism III resort[20].
- Not all guest visiting the resort go nude. There is a prude and nude side of the resort both with beaches and pools. All the restaurants except the nude grill have dress codes. There is nightly entertainment catering to a crowd that wants to party late into the evening. Swingers do go there in small numbers, except for several weeks during the year when they meet in large numbers. However, many guests visit the resort without going nude or swinging.
- In September 2009, Hedonism Resorts lost a WIPO trial against Relevansanalys[21] related to the registration of the Internet domain name 'hedonismhotels.com'.
[edit] In popular culture
- In 2005, the first three episodes of National Lampoon's Strip Poker were filmed at Hedonism II, the resort's reputation and characters serving as the backdrop.[citation needed]
- In the "Dwight's Speech" episode of The Office, Kevin suggests that Jim go to Hedonism for a vacation. He describes it as "like Club Med, but everything is naked."[22]
- In the 2011 second season episode of Workaholics, the guys are looking forward to a Thanksgiving trip to Hedonism II rather than their families, but Blake needs to get a passport in six hours.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/160001_Issa--don-t-know--who-owns-Cayman-company-investing-in-SuperClubs
- ^ Court sees video of alleged drug use, sex at Hedonism, Jamaican Observer, October 18, 2009 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/results/161988_Court-sees-video-of-alleged-drug-use--sex-at-Hedonism
- ^ Negril is Jamaican Jewel, Boca Raton News, Feb 5, 1978, page 23
- ^ http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?ID=3629097&SessionID=qtVUHC9nzzjIbR7
- ^ http://www.japarliament.gov.jm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214:finsac-commission-sits-on-july-i&catid=1:news&Itemid=8
- ^ http://www.finsac.com/news/howmuchmoneywillfinsaccostthenation.htm
- ^ http://www.travelpulse.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=71681
- ^ http://www.superclubs.com/superfun.htm
- ^ Former Hedonism III hotel up for sale, Jamaica Gleaner, March 11, 2011
- ^ Racy Resort Faces Dearth of Hedonists, The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2010, page C8
- ^ Former Hedonism III hotel up for sale, Jamaica Gleaner, March 11, 2011
- ^ Mass Nude Wedding at Hedonism III
- ^ Oral sex, orgies at Hedonism II, guest tells travel site, Jamaica Observer, March 08, 2010 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/zein-issa_7469471
- ^ Issa lawsuit: Attorney alleges open sex in the hot tub every night, Jamaica Observer, May 09, 2010 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Issa-lawsuit-May-9
- ^ Issa lawsuit: Attorney alleges open sex in the hot tub every night, Jamaica Observer, Nov. 1, 2009, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/162963_Issa-lawsuit--Attorney-alleges-open-sex-in-the-hot-tub-every-night
- ^ 'I'm not running a whorehouse,' Issa tells court, Jamaica Observer, October 11, 2009 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/161485_-I-m-not-running-a-whorehouse---Issa-tells-court
- ^ http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081116/news/news1.html, Jamaica Gleaner, November 16, 2008
- ^ Issa satisfied with Hedonism's image of 'decadence and debauchery', Jamaica Gleaner, April 10, 2011, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Issa-satisfied-with-Hedonism-s-image-of--decadence-and-debauchery-_8647873#ixzz1OhT6N4DY
- ^ Hedonism invites guests to 'be wicked for a week', Jamaica Gleaner, June 12, 2011, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hedonism-invites-guests-to--be-wicked-for-a-week-_8999885
- ^ 'Wild Women Vacation' promoted bisexual party at Hedonism, Jamaica Observer, April 18, 2011, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Wild-Women-Vacation--promoted-bisexual-party-at-Hedonism_8680118
- ^ WIPO adjudication report
- ^ Dwight's Speech
[edit] External links
