COVID Protocol 16 Oct 2020, 4:01 pm

 

COVID – 19 Protocol

In a response to the current health crisis brought upon by the Corona Virus (COVID – 19) necessitate changes to our existing modus – aperandi. We are yet to get a firm handle and this virus and therefore our protocols must change to adopt as we carve out the way forward and to co-exist while ensuring maxium safety for both our guests and staff alike.

The Objectives of this Plan/Protocol are to;

1. Ensure safety of staff and clients alike.
2. Provide procedure for each department and how to operate within the parameters set out by the MOH and MOT.
3. Boost customer confidence as we aim to co-exist and contribute to the control and eradication of this virus.

 

Each individual are to obey all regualtions set-out by our local and national health authority.

• All policies/safety rules will be published and trainings done where necessary for all staff.
• The rules of social distancing must be observed at all times until lifted by the MOH/Government of Jamaica.
• There must be gathering of no more than 10 staff member in any one area, and social distance must be maintained.
• Signage will be placed in strategic locations and should be adhered to.
• Report any flu like symptoms to management
• Stay home if you feel ill or that you are coming down with a cold or flu.
• Report if you have come in contact with someone who have the virus and do self isolation immediately.

 

WASHING OR SANITIZING OF HANDS

• Hands must be washed as often as possible using soap and water.
• If you are unable to use soap and water then hand sanitizers must be used. The company will provide sanitizers at key locations throughout the property; namely Front office, Restaurant and the Broken Rudder. We also recommend that individual have their own sanitizers if possible.

MASK

• We insist that you obey the rules of wearing masks, as such the company will provide each staff with two reuseable masks for use while at work.
• Masks must be worn at all times in the following areas;

1. Front of House – Restaurant
2. Front Desk when attending to guests
3. Housekeeping when providing in room services.

• Disposable masks will be on sale for guests who do not have during their stay with us.

MAIN GATE

1. You are required to ensure that persons entering the property both staff and guests temperature is taken. If temperature is above that of the approved reading the office is to be notified. A person with a high temperature does not necessarily mean they have the virus and should be treated with privacy and appropriatness. In some cases you can asked them to wait for a few minutes and the temperature taken as it could mean walking in the sun elevated their body temp.
2. There is a log sheet provide for the daily recording of temperature for each staff.

FRONT OFFICE

• Door should remain open for guests to access to the front office without holding the door handle. This will prevent persons from having to touch the door upon entrance and exit.
• No more that one family or couple will be accommodated in the front office at any one time. Guests will be asked to wait on the outside until the areas is free.
• Desk, pens and and clip boards will be sanitized after each use by staff and/or guests.
• Door handles, and light switches for bathroom will also be sanitized on a frequent basis through the day.

RESTAURANT & BAR

1. In an effort to prevent the over crowding we will require reservations for guest once our villa count exceeds 5 units.
2. All tables, menus and card machine must be sanitized after each use or as necessary.
3. An extra effort is to be made to ensure that dining is not prolonged and patrons are to be advised that once they have eaten they should leave the dining area.
4. There should be no unnecessary gathering in the dining area.

RESTAURANT – FOH

• All staff are required to wear mask, especially when dealing with customers. Your job requires you to be close to guests when serving and therefore require due care for both yourself and for the guests.
• Ensure that all tables are spaced at least six feet apart, and that social disctancing is maintined with guests
• Observe all patrons and be cautious of any flu like symptoms e.g. coughing and sneezing etc. If observed the main office must be notified immediately.
• Staff must wash hands very frequently, especially after direct contact with guests, collecting of cash/card etc.
• Avoid touching your face, wash your hands if you have to.

HOUSEKEEPING/LAUNDRY

• Staff will be required to wear mask and a disposable pinafore/or apron when providing service within villas.
• Its recommended that guests are not in the villa when providing housekeeping service to avoid contact with guests/staff.
• Gloves must be worn at all times.
• All linen must be fumegated or treated at the laundry.
• The linen cupboard must be sanitized every 3 days as an added precaution, to avoid contaminateion of clean linens.
• Staff must wear gloves and masks when handling clean or dirty linens.

.

VILLAS

• All villas will be thoroughly sanitized, through fumigation and other sanitizing efforts on a regular basis; this includes specific areas and equipment, such as;

1. Light switches
2. Remotes (Cable,tv and A/C)

• Door handles

1. Phones

• Villas will not be allowed to have a departure and arrival on the same day. This gives us adequate time to clean and sanitize before another arrival.

 

POOL/WATERSPORTS

• Pool chairs/tables must be sanitized daily
• Snorkle gears, life jackets and Kayaks will be sanitized after each use.
• Life rings will be sanitized after each use or periodically based on need and assessment.
• CPR face masked will be sanitized periodically and after each use.
• Our pool/beach chairs will be arrange to facilitate the require distancing as proposed by the government of Jamaica (minimum 6ft apart).
• All dirty towels must be placed, in marked containers at the beach/pool areas.

QURANTINE ROOM

• We have designated Villa # 5 as the unit used to host person who are ill and/or suspected to have the virus. This unit is very isolated, while ensuring that individuals are allowed to be comfortable.
• Once, a guest is showing signs of the virus or flu like symptoms their villa will be deemed quarantined. They will be asked to remain in their unit and the MOH notified immediately. They are allowed oustide their unit on their porch etc but will not be allowed in the general areas. Food will be brought to them at no additional cost.
• Perons bringing food and other essentials must wear a mask and other PPE’s.

TRANSPORTATION

• Drivers are required to make adjustment to there vehicle to prevent direct contact with themselves and the guests. Such as seating arrangement etc.
• Vehicle must be sanitized after each transport.

UNIFORM POLICY

• Staff such as housekeepers and FOH personel are mandated to wash and sanitize their uniform at the laundry where it will be kept. No clothing worn on the road should be worn in public areas or guest areas.

RECEIVING OF GOODS

• Goods will be received by designated staff, this person will be required to wear gloves and mask. Items will be sanitized before brought into the respective areas. The key areas for receiving goods are Restaurant/Bar and Housekeeping.
• All persons doing delivery are required to wear mask and maintain social distancing as best as possible when offloading items.

 

 

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

 

In the main office/reception area all emergency numbers will be posted for guests to see. This list will include Police, Fire, Hospital, Ambulance, Dispatch station, etc. Moreover, all first aid and CPR signage, AED instructions and similar postings will be available as well.  We have developed a relationship with Dr. Wallace who is our on-call physician in case of emergency. Her cell phone number will be posted on the emergency numbers list. Directory in each villa consist of emergency numbers and cell number for the property supervisor.

1)   Ministry of Health COVID-19 Hotline # – 888 – ONE-LOVE (663 – 5683) or 888 754 7792 or 876 542 5998

 

Our on call Doctor – Dr. R. Wallace – 876 363 9035/ Dr. R. Carrington –  876 829 – 0762

 

VEHICLE ON STANDBY

 

There will always be a vehicle on standby on the property for errands that need to be run for guests, or for emergency situations/evacuations.

 

Property Emergency Management Team

1.

1. Klent Elson – Operations Manager – Lives in very close proximatey to the prperty –  Cell # 876 577 – 9573
2. Damion Cousins – Night Supervisor – 876 360 – 1506
3. Kamika Baboram – Guest Services/Rooms Divison Sup. – 876 550 – 9630

 

3. PHYSICAL DISTANCING PLAN

 

Hermosa Cove is a resort that is by nature of its setup social distant. Our villas are all private and are all “isolated”, which doesn’t warrant a need for additional protocals in regards to how we control crowds etc.

 

We will monitor the number of persons we accommodate in our front office at any given time. This will be limited to two units or maximum 6 persons  in that given space. Persons with cough or other flu like symptoms will not be allowed in office spaces, restaurants, bars, or our public pools.

 

In regards to our restaurant/dining services we are limiting the number of persons dining at any given time. Seating capacity has been reduced to create adequate space for proper distancing. We also ensure that we set reservations requirements to alleviate any form of crowding etc. at the restaurant. There are no queues before dining and would not require floor indcators.

 

Our pool and beach furniture are arrange to ensure proper distancing.

 

4. Sanitization and Communication

 

Sanitizing stations are been organizated at strategic points on the property. Plans are also in place to do general santizing of villas and public areas on a regualar basis or based on usage.

 

Our rooms and divison supervisor is in charge of monitoring all inventory relating to PPEs, cleaning and sanitizing agents. We already have a secured area dedicated to the proper storage of chemical and other cleaning agents.

 

Hermosa Cove is a very small entity and therefore the staff compliment is small as well. Each department has a supervisor, reports will follow the chain of command to esnure proper accountability as it pertains to issues. This will be the same medium by which we will account for issues relating to the protocols governing our management of the COVID – 19 situation.

 

We recognize the importance of proper mangement strategies as it relates to the virus, we believe effective communication between each department is of vital importance. There will be special bulletin board, that each staff member will use to obtain daily or weekly updates as it pertains to the dissemination of information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stranded in Paradise – Part II 20 Aug 2020, 8:46 pm

Stranded in Paradise – Part II

A story of beauty in a time of difficulty

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Another chapter in the sagging story I’m calling “stranded in paradise”; this one to add a little flavor.

My wife Deb believes that I bring a unique value to our relationship … simply put … survival skills. “Love of my life,” she says, “if ever there were a catastrophic event, leaving us helplessly stranded, I would want you there for your survival skills.” So there you have it.

In my mind, survival skills go beyond the ability to craft a table or build a house. They go even beyond my gargantuan frame; I could easily hold my own in a fight, although simply standing would stop a brawl before it even began. “Lookout! He’s a giant”. Survival skills are about bravely standing up in adversity. This even includes driving. I won’t back down from the rude kamikaze motorists in Ochi. On a few occasions I’ve taken driving into the realm of a contact sport; small stuff breaking off someone’s mirror … it was probably already loose anyway. And there was that time the side trim clattered down to the pavement from the speeding taxi trying to cut in. The driver never stopped to talk about it; clear admission that he was in the wrong.

But survival really isn’t the purpose and point of life, we want satisfaction. But now, that’s really a matter of the heart, not circumstance, isn’t it?

Shortly after the day the Jamaican government announced that it had closed all the airports, we’re back to normal; Deb slogging through her stacked-up email inbox, dogs laying our feet. The older I become, the more I appreciate normal. And “normal” is what this little villa we call Idle Rock has become. A different kind of adventure. Now, you would probably think Clayton and Deb Korver, as the owners of Hermosa Cove, would choose to live in one of the many pristine villas on the resort property; but my lovely wife of 30 years who also runs the business and accounting side of this operation says “that does not make financial sense, dearest.” So this little hut became our home; and for the last 15 years that’s where we live while staying in Jamaica.

Over the years Idle Rock and evolved from just our living quarters into office space for Deb, a warehousing and staging area for the countless items brought in from abroad, and a couple of work benches with a full complement of power tools. The work benches are of course mine, items that I snuck into the house while Deb was back in Iowa for an extended trip. Upon her return, she was thrilled to see me, “Honey, it’s so good to be … home …” her smile evaporating as she looks at the workshop, lining both sides of our entry. I knew I had pushed for too much hearing Deb sob, stifling a scream as she sees my band saw (I knew I should have started with the drill press).

Then it dawns on me, Deb hates my driving. She even hates me driving her to the store. I could show her all the new pieces I had made, saying “They’re all for you!” Maybe these aren’t the survival skills needed for a moment such as that, or rather, a moment such as this. As I joke about our current predicament, saying a nice title for our current situation would be “Stranded in Paradise”; this lovely, slightly vindictive women sits at her keyboard, tippy, tappy, typing away. With a hint of a smirk on her sweet face, she spreads the word that Clayton is going to “write a story”. I’m trapped. I’ll certainly fail. But the process of writing has brought us from a place of survival to one of satisfaction in circumstance.

I love Jamaica.

I love Hermosa Cove.

I love Idle Rock, even if it doesn’t measure up to the quality of the rest of the villas on property, it’s our home.

And moreover, I love my wife.

We love the life we’ve chosen to live. Together.

So perhaps I should restart with an apology.

I’m sorry that you’re here reading my ramblings. But if in your reading you’ve found any hope in humanity, solidarity in searching, then no apology is needed. We pray that you too can find beauty in the present place, exactly where you’re at, and in that beauty find joy and satisfaction.

Staying safe, Irie

— Clayton

Stranded in Paradise – Part I 1 Jun 2020, 10:13 pm

Stranded in Paradise – Part I

A story of beauty in a time of difficulty

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I need to get going on this story, I need to share human hope in this moment, so why not simply start with where I’m sitting: Idle Rock Villa, Hermosa Cove, Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

 

Using my two index fingers I peck out this story. It begins yesterday, with Deb losing her internet connection. No email, no correspondence. Sometimes this is really nice and freeing, this time … not. We fast forward to today where the morning rituals are already in progress.

 

I’m own my second cup of my specially brewed coffee sitting and pondering life’s mysteries along with today’s work schedule for my crew.

 

Deb sits at her computer reading yesterday’s emails, some from a few weeks ago, wearing a studious look, that turns serious. She clunks down her cup of tea, which causes both dogs at her feet to jump, momentarily awake. It was the way she quietly said my name, that alerted me for a coming news flash …

This might be a swell time to mention that Deb has become the de facto leader of flight scheduling and associated communications in this relationship. Aside from the obvious responsibilities this important leadership position carries, it bears with it the heavy burden and risk of being assigned blame when the job’s duties aren’t properly executed. I had recognized early in our marriage the natural talent I seem to have in approaching the touchy subject of blame assignment. It’s amazing just how fair and impartial I am in this area. More about this another time.

 

So Deb in her best news flash voice announces that the last flight for home left yesterday. She then added, “We missed it”, which seemed fairly obvious to me. Then came the icing on the cake, or maybe the last nail in the coffin, depends on how your you look at this additional information …

 

“This late breaking news update coming in from our Ms. Deb, live at Idle Rock”, (sounds like a rock concert announcement), “The government has also closed all the airports,” she says in her best on-the-air voice.

 

This is weird … as I consider this cake or coffin conundrum, I’m actually tasting cake frosting, and in the distance hear the faint sound of a hammer driving a nail. It’s probably just construction, not my future coffin, or maybe it’s the sound my heart stepping up in response to the news.

 

In situations such as this I’ve learned to breathe deeply and think calming thoughts. While starting my calm breathing exercise, I shift my chair to change my view. Now looking out through our wide-open patio doors, beauty hits me.

 

Deb will tell you that it is this view, this panorama, that makes Idle Rock so wonderful. I know it’s the same for me because there is not much else to love about this ancient ramshackle of a dwelling. Over the years it’s even lost the right to be called a villa; so we just call it “home.”

 

My mind returns to the deep breathing and the beautifully calming view. Coconut palms gently sway in the wind, framing the beautiful blue sea that stretches out into the horizon.  

 

This is weird … again … just as I was going to describe a frigate bird lazily soaring overhead, perfecting my view, it leaves … reminding me of the flight I cannot take. Instead, this majestic bird is replaced by a frumpy green parrot madly flapping its wings, trying to roost with his colorful friends (they’re decorative, made of glass). He finds his place, perched on one of the breadfruit trees in our yard, simply satisfied.

 

Then I’m brought back, struck by the overpowering taste of cake frosting. The pounding of my probable coffin drifts away. And I think to myself how lucky I am to be stranded with the woman I love … in paradise of all places.

 

Perhaps I’ll follow up this story by tackling another colloquialism, “Have your cake and eat it too.” I’m sure I can find some sort of tropical loophole …

 

Until then, Irie

 

 — Clayton

New Years Eve – Welcome 2020 19 Dec 2019, 3:19 pm

Summer 2019 Promotional 31 Mar 2019, 10:04 pm

5th night free

May 1 – December 15

see below for details

• Valid for travel between May 1, 2019 and November 20, 2019.
• Valid for new bookings only.
• Valid for direct bookings only.
  • Phone – 1-876-974-3699
  • Email – hermosa@hermosacove.com
  • Website – Book Now!

Fall 2017 Promotional – 4 or 5 22 Aug 2017, 2:47 am

five nights or four

September 28 – December 15

see below for details

Book a new trip to Hermosa Cove and we’ll add an extra slice of paradise.

Stay for 4 nights and we’ll set you up on an excursion to Dunn’s River Falls, often called one of Jamaica’s national treasures; expenses and transportation are on us.

Stay for 5 nights, we’ll take you to Dunn’s River Falls as well as provide you with private transportation to and from the airport. Arrive in Jamaica, get off the plane, and be whisked away to Hermosa Cove!

• Valid for travel between September 28, 2017 and December 15, 2017.
• Airport transportation applies to one round trip to Montego Bay or Kingston.
• Valid for new bookings only.
• Valid for direct bookings only.
  • Phone – 1-876-974-3699
  • Email – hermosa@hermosacove.com
  • Website – Book Now!

First Buoys Mark Boundary 3 May 2017, 2:02 am

White River Fish Sanctuary

Landmark day – first buoys mark boundary

Update 27th April 2017

There was fantastic team spirit today as the first 10 buoys went in along the White River Fish Sanctuary boundary, with more to follow tomorrow.

Three boats, Rori Bennett’s Golden Eye, Steve Anderson’s King of Sea and Raymond Taylor’s Water Bird ferried the weighty anchors, hooked up the buoys and dropped them in at specific GPS points. All three are members of the White River Fishermen’s Association who are equal partners in this community-led project to establish a no take zone and build up the reefs to protect the coastline.

There to teach our fishermen and new Warden Manager, Dalelan Anderson (in at the deep end as he only started Monday!) were the lads from the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary (OBFS).

Please note that this vital part of our project is being funded by a grant from the Special Climate Change Adaptation Fund-AP@FM Project PPCR.

The photos tell the story…

The teams: three boats – two dropping the anchors and setting the buoys, and one doing the GPS work, plumbing the depth and cutting the cable to the correct length.

  

Members of the White River Fishermen’s Association made the concrete anchors, and today it was a case of two strong guys to get them onto the boats.

  

The team on Water Bird plumb the depth at each GPS location, measure the cable and cut it.

  

Then it’s over to the teams on King of Sea and Golden Eye to thread it through the concrete anchor (left) and attach it to the shackle on the buoy with two clamps. Rat (OBFS) is teaching Delroy (WRFS).

  

Delroy Earle secures the clamp, before Herold Brumfield (WRFS) throws the buoy in…

  

…closely followed by its anchor. A diver then checks all is in order – et voilà – first buoy in place!

For more information contact:
Belinda Morrow: morrow101@mac.com
Delelan Anderson: manager@whiteriverfishsanctuary.com
http://whiteriverfishsanctuary.com

Valentines Day 2017 10 Feb 2017, 7:09 pm

Valentine’s Day at Hermosa Cove

A romantic meal prepared by Chef Conroy Arnold.
The seaside veranda at Christopher’s.
Wine in hand.
Your significant other by your side. 
Can you imagine anything better?
Neither can we.

Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at Hermosa Cove.

February 12, 13, & 14
$34 per person.
Call for reservations at 1-876-974-3699

TripAdvisor – Travellers’ Choice 2017 9 Feb 2017, 2:45 am

TripAdvisor – Traveller’s Choice 2017
Top 25 Small Hotels in the Caribbean

We are honored to announce that we are the recipient of TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award as one of top 25 small hotels in the Caribbean. This is one of the top honors from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site:


The breadth of this award is astounding. The top 25 in all of the Caribbean; not just Ocho Rios, not just Jamaica, but the entire Caribbean. No wonder we’re overjoyed and no wonder we invite you to celebrate with us. Hermosa Cove is truly a labor of love whose vision and mission is to serve and celebrate all that is Jamaica. But where would we be without our friends and family? So thank you to our staff for your hard work and thank you to our guests for your glowing reviews.

To help celebrate, we wanted to share with you two snippets from recent reviews that reached deeply into the heart of Hermosa Cove:  

Irie,
 – Clayton and Deb Korver

 

TripExpert – Experts’ Choice Winner 9 Feb 2017, 12:51 am

Congratulations: Experts’ Choice Winner
Hermosa Cove Villa Resort & Suites

We are very pleased to announce the winners of our 2016 Experts’ Choice Awards.This year, we are recognizing over 5,000 of the best hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions around the world.

Experts’ Choice is an entirely new kind of award. It is based on reviews written by professionals for major travel guides, magazines, newspapers, and other respected publications. At TripExpert, we bring together these reviews and provide a snapshot of what the experts think are the best places to stay, eat, and visit.

How are the winners chosen?

Experts’ Choice Awards recognize businesses that have outperformed their peers, as reflected in reviews from our 70+ source publications. In general, winners have received a TripExpert Score in the top 30% of comparable venues. (In some destinations with a very large number or quality of venues, more than 30% receive the award.)

In calculating each venue’s TripExpert Score, we take into consideration how many publications have recommended it, what they’ve said about it, and what score or rating they’ve given it. Our algorithm also makes a number of important adjustments; for example, to account for the fact that outstanding but relatively new businesses may not yet have been extensively reviewed.

Our research shows that aggregating professional reviews produces much more reliable results than user review sites.

Who are the winners?

Our 5,000 winners cover four continents and over 80 countries, and include hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. The hotel winners range the full spectrum of lodgings from major luxury hotel chains to five-room family-owned boutiques; our restaurants range from Michelin-starred fine dining establishments to food trucks and “hole-in-the-wall” eateries. In the tourist attraction category, there are museums, parks, historical buildings, and just about anything else that’s worth visiting.

Although Experts’ Choice winners are diverse, they all share one thing: they have received high praise from expert reviewers. Some of our winners have been recommended in as many as 30 different publications, often including not only travel guides and magazines but also local, national and international press.

To find Experts’ Choice winners, look for the badge on TripExpert.com.

Check out our profile on TripExpert.com

https://www.tripexpert.com/jamaica/hotels/hermosa-cove-jamaicas-villa-hotel