Hedonism Resorts Explained

Hotel Name:Hedonism II
Pushpin Map:Jamaica
Coordinates:18.338°N -78.3409°W
Opening Date:1976
Operator:Marshmallow Ltd
Number Of Restaurants:5
Number Of Rooms:280
Floors:2
Hotel Name:Hedonism III
Alternate Names:SuperFun Beach Resort
Location:Rutland Point, Westmoreland, Jamaica
Pushpin Map:Jamaica
Coordinates:18.4696°N -77.3164°W
Opening Date:1999
Closing Date:2010 (SuperFun Beach Resort in 2011)
Operator:PB & J Resorts
Owner:Harry W. Lange
Number Of Rooms:280
Number Of Suites:15
Floors:2
Parking:Yes

Hedonism II is an adults-only vacation resort in Jamaica, owned and operated by Marshmallow Ltd, headed by Harry Lange.[1] The resort has areas reserved for naturism and it is known for its sexually liberal culture., only Hedonism II is in operation. There was never a Hedonism I, and Hedonism III closed in 2010.

History

Hedonism II opened in 1976 as "Negril Beach Village" and was renamed in 1981. It was built by the Government of Jamaica at a cost of $10 million.[2] It occupies 22acres 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,[3] a resort company owned by John Issa & his family, for $12.25 million.[4] On February 26, 2013, the resort was sold to Marshmallow Ltd headed by Harry Lange with a minority stock held by the Issa family[5] and Kevin Levee, a 28-year employee of SuperClubs and its current general manager.[6] Harry W. Lange's company is now named PB&J Resorts II (Jamaica) Limited.

Hedonism III opened in 1999 in Runaway Bay and was built on 10acres and contained 225 rooms in 3-story buildings; in August 2010 the company closed Hedonism III temporarily, to allow for remodeling work. It reopened on October 14, 2010, as SuperFun Beach Resort and Spa[7] catering to a wider market through additional tour operators. However, SuperFun Beach Resort entered receivership in March 2011 and closed in June 2011.[8] While it was an adult-only resort, SuperFun did not allow topless or nude sunbathing. The property was leased to SuperClubs by the Development Bank of Jamaica, while[9] the hotel's first-ranked secured lenders were Caribbean Development Bank, PanCaribbean, and Development Bank of Jamaica.[8]

In July 2020, a cannabis dispensary Hedo Weedo was opened inside the resort as the first legal and regulated cannabis dispensary in Jamaica.[10]

Hedonism II often receives bookings from tour companies, who cater to swingers.

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;[11] Hedonism resorts host nudist and swingers conventions: it has been alleged that open sex is common,[12] including in the hot tubs at night.[13] SuperClubs owner John Issa said he was not aware of this.[14]

Issa also said he was not running a "whorehouse" and that, to his knowledge, "whores are not working" in his Hedonism hotels.[15] Issa sued two employees of Unique Vacations in Miami, Florida, over e-mails sent in 2007 and 2008 which he said contained "defamatory statements" about activities at Hedonism Resorts[16] and sought damages of an unspecified amount for what he said were false and malicious statements.

Issa said he feels satisfied with Hedonism's image of decadence and debauchery[17] and is satisfied with the idea, expressed on his website, 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".[18] Issa allegedly promoted bisexual activities at Hedonism III.[19]

In September 2009, Hedonism Resorts lost a WIPO trial against Relevansanalys[20] related to the registration of the Internet domain name 'hedonismhotels.com'.

In popular culture

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hedonism II Resort in Jamaica – Review of Unique All-Inclusive Vacation Spot. Splash Magazine. August 3, 2016.
  2. Negril is Jamaican Jewel, Boca Raton News, Feb 5, 1978 page 23
  3. Web site: JAMAICA GOVERNMENT OF, Form 18-K, Filing Date Apr 27, 2005 . secdatabase.com . May 15, 2018 . May 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180516104044/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1046/119312505086652/filing-main.htm . live .
  4. Web site: finsac news and releases. finsac.com. 2010-04-11. 2011-07-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20110711003325/http://www.finsac.com/news/howmuchmoneywillfinsaccostthenation.htm. live.
  5. News: Collinder . Avia . SuperClubs selling Hedonism II hotel . The Gleaner . 2013-03-24 . 2012-11-09 . 2012-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121112005723/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121109/business/business2.html . live .
  6. News: Issa to sell Hedonism II . The Gleaner . September 18, 2013 . November 8, 2012 . October 25, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131025175101/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121108/lead/lead41.html . live .
  7. http://www.travelpulse.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=71681
  8. Former Hedonism III hotel is up for sale, Jamaica Gleaner, March 11, 2011
  9. Racy Resort Faces Dearth of Hedonists, The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2010 page C8
  10. Web site: Ainsley Walters . Hedonism II’s Hedo Weedo is smokin’ . . 24 September 2023 . 24 March 2023 . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001091326/https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lifestyle/20230324/hedonism-iis-hedo-weedo-smokin . live .
  11. Web site: Mass Nude Wedding at Hedonism III . 2009-12-01 . 2012-07-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120729133809/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030215/news/news1.html . dead .
  12. News: Oral sex, orgies at Hedonism II, guest tells travel site. Jamaica Observer. March 8, 2010.
  13. News: Issa lawsuit: Attorney alleges open sex in the hot tub every night. Jamaica Observer. May 9, 2010. May 9, 2010. May 11, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100511012525/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Issa-lawsuit-May-9. live.
  14. News: Issa lawsuit: Attorney alleges open sex in the hot tub every night. Jamaica Observer. November 1, 2009. March 8, 2010. January 19, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110119051814/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/162963_Issa-lawsuit--Attorney-alleges-open-sex-in-the-hot-tub-every-night. live.
  15. News: I'm not running a whorehouse,' Issa tells court. Jamaica Observer. October 11, 2009. March 28, 2010. June 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629095414/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/161485_-I-m-not-running-a-whorehouse---Issa-tells-court. live.
  16. Web site: Jamaica Gleaner News - Issa fights defamatory statements - Sunday November 16, 2008 . www.jamaica-gleaner.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100519143800/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081116/news/news1.html . 2010-05-19.
  17. Web site: Issa satisfied with Hedonism's image of decadence and debauchery. April 10, 2011. June 8, 2011. April 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110413082945/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Issa-satisfied-with-Hedonism-s-image-of--decadence-and-debauchery-_8647873#ixzz1OhT6N4DY. live.
  18. Web site: Hedonism invites guests to be wicked for a week. June 12, 2011. June 16, 2011. June 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615042039/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hedonism-invites-guests-to--be-wicked-for-a-week-_8999885. live.
  19. Web site: 'Wild Women Vacation' promoted bisexual party at Hedonism. Jamaica Observer. 28 November 2014. 18 April 2011. 4 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141204213109/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Wild-Women-Vacation--promoted-bisexual-party-at-Hedonism_8680118. live.
  20. Web site: WIPO Domain Name Decision: D2009-0974. Arbitration and Mediation Center. 3 September 2009. wipo.int. 5 October 2009. 22 September 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090922185422/http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2009/d2009-0974.html. live.
  21. Web site: The Office Quotes (NBC) - Season 2 - Dwight's Speech. theofficequotes.com. 2010-03-28. 2010-04-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20100409023009/http://www.theofficequotes.com/season-2/dwights-speech. live.
  22. Web site: SWINGER BLOG - Stories about sex and the swinger lifestyle. The Swingers Blog. 2012-11-17. 2012-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20121216012732/http://www.swingersocial.com/the-swinger-blog/hedo-swinger-sex-resort-on-tosh-0/. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hedonism Resorts".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.