WHILE some hotels are gearing up for their annual New Year’s Eve parties, others, citing economic difficulties, are instead opting only to open their restaurants for dinner.

According to Les Goldsmith, general manager of the Morgan’s Harbour Hotel in Port Royal, high-cost New Year’s Eve bashes do not usually bring in a profit so their activities will be low-keyed this year.

“We find that with advertising, entertainment or any other promotion. there is nothing left for the hotel. This year will we will be low-keyed. as only the restaurant will be opened,” Goldsmith told the Observer.

The Hilton Kingston, one of the largest hotels in the capital, has also opted not to have a ball this year. Bartholomew South, the hotel’s banquet supervisor, said New Year’s Eve will be a “regular restaurant night” at the New Kingston property.

On the island’s north coast, in Montego Bay, El Greco Resort plans to scale down their New Year’s Eve activities.

Joan Dove, the small hotel’s resident manager is still gearing up for the celebration – but with caution.

“Essentially, with all of what is happening globally, we have to be mindful of how we spend money. We won’t be spending a lot of money for one night because we have the new year to think about,” she explained. “In fact, come January, the water bill will be going up by 26 per cent and I’m sure our patrons have bills to pay and their children to send off to school.”

El Greco, Dove added, will ring in the new year in a semi-formal atmosphere, “eliminating the stress of having to purchase a $10,000-ball dress and to also shop for shoes”.

“What we are planning this year is more of a party rather than a ball. The price for tickets, at J$2,500 per person and J$4,000 for couples, will be far less than what others are charging,” she said.

Unlike properties which have opted for the low-key approach, SuperClub’s Grand Lido Braco in Trelawny will be hosting an elaborate affair for the festive occasion.

They will cater to an approximate 600 in-house guests. Decorations include 15 ice carvings with a price tag of $3,000 each, plus 800 party favours.

According to the resort’s entertainment manager, Velicea Baugh, they are determined to go all out this year as the property is being marketed as a five-star resort.

“Our visitors can expect nothing less as what we market, we’ll have to give; and that is what they’ve bought. We can’t really cut back; it’s a five-star resort,” she said.

She added that the economic climate had not affected their plans for New Year’s Eve.

“By far it will be well over a million dollars to host this event,” she estimated.

There will be no passes for outsiders.

Couples Negril also plans an elaborate celebration.

“This is a very upscale resort and we have a lot of repeat customers who will be here, so we have to maintain our standard,” Arnold Nugent, operations manager, told the Observer.

It will cost the hotel more than a million dollars to host the party even though Nugent said most of the props and the decorations will be recycled from the hotel’s anniversary celebration that was held earlier in the year.

But over at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston, they are sparing no expense for the New Year’s bash.

“We won’t be cutting any corners this year for our New Year’s Eve festivity,” declared Michelle Hussey, managing director.

The hotel plans to ring in the new year with about 300 patrons by the hotel poolside and lawn. Outsiders can pay $J3, 500 to get in.

“The price of the ticket will cover the cost of what we put in. We’re not looking to make a profit as this year has been an absolutely phenomenal season,” the managing director said. “It’s an end-of-year celebration, a thanksgiving for the whole year and it was very successful for us.”

But while some establishments are hoping to just cover the cost of their grand gala, others, like Kingston’s Jamaica Pegasus ,see it as a possibility to make a profit while they have fun.

“It is a business… we’re not going to lose as ticket sales are going well and we’re not subsidising either. It is the time for the Pegasus to put on a profitable event, an attractive one for Jamaicans to come out and have a good time,”

Prudence Simpson, director of sales and marketing told the Observer, adding that the hotel has a standard which they intend to keep.

“We’re traditionally the place to be and to be seen and people look forward to any event that the Pegasus is putting on,” she continued.

Their all-inclusive package will cater to about 550. Tickets for dinner, an open bar with champagne after midnight, a show and party favours are J$4,000.

“We have not watered-down our event so it has to maintain our traditionally high standard,” Simpson said.