I heard that the Paradise Hotel was sold, but does anyone know to who, or what is happening with the property? We used to love staying there, got great rates, loved the location, kitchenette was perfect - now don't know where to stay.

I have not been able to get through to them lately - emails get returned. Not sure what the status is. I heard it was getting ripped down and condos built but don't know when that was supposed to happen.

The Phoenix.

Very high-end luxury residences, condominiums, are currently being built on the grounds of the former and once famous Paradise Hotel.

Jolene, Seven Seas and Hotel del Rio may be suitable substitutes for you.

SIN

PRH 5 - rest in peace

Enjoying Paradise!



The Paradise Hotel, circa 1980's, was one of the best hotels in the entire country of Belize. It's gorgeous setting provided thousands of visitors to Ambergris Caye with memorable postcard perfect vacations. The hotel's original dock was considered the best swimming area around San Pedro, greatly enjoyed every day by tourists and locals, and filled up to capacity by Belize City visitors during the Easter vacations. Guests at the Paradise Hotel were pampered with the friendliest service provided by an efficient staff, including Manager Nellie Gomez and Office Assistant Jackie Halliday Gonzalez. The hotel's lively bar, first-class restaurant, and evening barbecues on the beach were just some of the many reasons why guests at Paradise kept returning to San Pedro year after year, establishing warm relationships with many of the locals. The saying, "It doesn't get better than this" applied perfectly to the Paradise Hotel magic during its magnificent days back in the 70's and 80's, when owner Jerry McDermott used to entertain the likes of Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola, like many others, fell in love with Belize during this era in the history of the island.

What a great time on the island.

Jerry, we look forward to your new project!

Best of luck,

SIN

Hi

I’m one of the people involved in The Phoenix, the resort currently being built on the old property of The Paradise Resort Hotel. First, I want to thank SIN for sharing the history of The Paradise and his kind words of encouragement for Jerry and the new project.

Since Jolene was asking about what's been happening with The Paradise, I thought I'd briefly explain what's going on.

As many of you might have heard, about 9 months ago Jerry McDermott and a small group of family and friends bought back The Paradise from the group they sold it to around 1990 or so—in recent years Jerry and his wife Linda and their daugher Kelly had wanted to bring the Resort they built and ran for so long back to prominence, and when the situation presented itself they jumped at the opportunity.

Because the island has changed a lot over the past 15 years, the McDermott’s and their partners thought a lot about the type of Resort they wanted to provide to vacationers in San Pedro.

What has arose from those discussions is the appropriately named “The Phoenix.” It will be a luxury resort when it opens sometime in 2006. If you’re in town and walk by on the beach you’ll see the construction underway that began in August. All of the residences will be condominiums, mostly 2 bedrooms floor plans, with a couple 3 bedroom plans and a couple 1 bedroom plans. The rooms will be spacious and nicely furnished, each with a large private veranda as well. The architecture was designed in a cool Central American/Mexican style. There’ll also be a couple pools, nice landscaping, exercise/fitness center, and restaurant and bar for guests and locals.

Most importantly, we’re going to try as hard as possible to provide great accommodations with the same spirit and hospitality that made the Paradise so successful.

I agree with a couple posts that The Paradise will be missed. I never stayed there myself but I've heard enough stories to feel like I have. Hopefully, however, The Phoenix will help people create some new memories on Ambergris Caye.

I’d be happy to talk with anyone curious about our progress or interested in learning more about the project—just stop by our new office across from the fire station on pescador drive. I'm around most of the time.

Mark