Monday, November 28, 2016

Appleton Estate Tour Gets $7.2 Million Dollar Renovation

     Gruppo Campari has revealed plans to invest $7.2 million to upgrade and renovate its Appleton Estate Rum Tour in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.   The expansion of Appleton Estate’s visitor center will create new job opportunities for residents living in rural areas.   The expansion of Appleton’s visitor center will provide “a unique visitor experience”, plus an increase the number of tourists to the island.   The investment could also see the Appleton Estate Rum Tour become “one of the largest tourist attractions” on the south coast, according to the Jamaica Observer.
     The work includes the renovation of the existing facility, the addition of modern rooms to facilitate rum tastings, an expansive retail store, and a restaurant and lounge offering Appleton-infused Jamaica cuisine.   Gruppo Campari is also looking to revive a rail service for the tour by 2017 – which was dropped in the 1990's.  This will allow the number of visitors to be tripled.   The group is also looking at plans to offer a small-scale hotel in the near future.

     The upgrading of the facility and its expansion by another 25,000 square feet is expected to be complete by October 2017.