Winner of the 13th annual Ultimate Men of Hedonism Calendar competition, Ahmed 'GQ' Rhodes (left) from New York, kicks back with fellow Men of Hedonism contender, Ceferino Garcia, following the recent showcase at Hedonism II in Negril.
Well, it was all about Hedonism II and glorious Negril last weekend!
But no surprises here as it's the hottest adult playground this side of the world. Last weekend was that much hotter as the resort was hosting its Ultimate Men of Hedonism Calendar annual competition. Beefcakes jetted in from all across the world for their chance to not only win the cash prize of US$2,000 and the rights to the cover of the Hedonism resorts' calendar, but also special appearances as ambassadors-at-large for the resorts. They also get international bragging rights!
It is a given that the most successful resort owners the globe over have reached their perch by understanding the most basic desire of the vacationing public. A vacation must transport the vacationer from the predictable to a fantasy existence, the likes of which the vacationer will always seek to relive. And in seeking to relive it, becomes a multi-repeat guest and ambassador for the resort! SuperClubs resorts and its founder John Issa understand this concept and managing and driving it is hotelier Kevin Levee!
Issa did that oh so well, the concept is the fastest-growing copycat business in the tourist industry. What those who have copied his formula have not been able to duplicate, however, is his ability to identify, promote and empower those whom he leads to the point that they, too, can take his vision and theirs, and fashion a hybrid to take the concept to the next level! In this respect, Levee is in a class by himself, a protégé of the esteemed Issa.
Hot destination
Levee first started with SuperClubs about 25 years ago, rising through the ranks to the position of general manager some 15 years ago, first at Hedo II before being appointed to head the newly built Hedonism III in Runaway Bay in St Ann where, in just under five years, he transformed the unknown resort into one of the hottest destinations in the international travel industry.
Today, Levee is back at Hedo II and the trailblazing hotelier is all determined to re-establish Negril as the party and entertainment capital of the Caribbean, with Hedo II as its headquarters. Well, if last weekend's entertainment offering was anything to judge by, Negril is back and Hedonism II is once again the destination of choice for the party hearty! The 13th annual edition of the Ultimate Men of Hedonism is staged as an entertainment package, designed and choreographed for women. No worry here that the menfolk would have been feeling neglected as while the contest to choose the new face for the 2010 Hedonism resorts' calendar was scheduled to climax on Saturday, June 6, and on Friday, June 5, the men were royally entertained with the hosting of the international finals of the Miss Canadian Super-Hot Bikini contest!
12 hunks
Hedonism 11 was not all about the men this past weekend as loads of lovely Canadians also flew in for their own pageant on Friday night. Here are some of the Canadian beauties with the resort's managing director, Kevin Levee.
But back to the men. We are talking 12 hunks, of all hues and background, buffed to perfection (for the most part) and strutting their stuff like only they could, in an effort to outshine each other and impress upon the judges that every one of them was the right contestant for the ultimate prize! Well, the contest got under way just shy of 9 p.m., and before long, it was very clear that the jam-packed audience had narrowed down the field from to any one of three contestants, Jamaican Marlon Birbridge, American Ahmed Rhodes using the moniker 'GQ' and Latino hunk Ceferino Garcia as the main contenders! With the final outcome still to be determined, as the contestants were being judged in five different categories requiring five individual appearances, the competition heated up like flowing lava!
They were judged for deportment, talent, creativity, entertainment value and personality, the contest literally pitted each contestant against the other, particularly in the talent section. When it was all over, the upset was complete, as amid the shrieks, screams, jollification and sips, crowd favourite Birbridge was beaten into second place by Rhodes, who emerged as the winner, with the rather diminutive, but no less chiselled Abraham Salmon emerging as the first runner-up! And then it was on to the resort's groovy piano bar and then the up-tempo Hurricane Disco to party the rest of the night/morning away!
Among those out were resort GM Kevin Levee, Hotel Manager Lorna Clarke; the esteemed Busha Clarke, fresh from the triumph of his annual Crabfest at his Paradise Park Estate; the celebrated Patrick Brady from famous Negril Hotspot, Risky Business; the lovely Karen Lanigan of Couples Negril; Ricardo Bowleg of Couples Swept Away Negril; the absolutely stunning Jennifer Izzo; Sam James Jr.; the charming Patti Paxton; Errol Bennett; Emily Smith; Dave Rodney, in from New York; the fab Michelle LaPorte Reid, still all aglow from her honeymoon.
We spotted Freddy James and a bevy of beauties; the lovely Michelle Tulloch; Dr Anton Best, in from Barbados; Dian Palmer of Red Stripe; Gregory Shervington; Rosa Young of Waves, Negril; Stanley Capleton of Kool 97 FM; the oh-so-fab Lilavati Makineni, in from New York and making it her sixth trip to the resort in three years; Robert Headley of Margaritaville; the resort's PR manager, the charming Rochelle Forbes; and Dwayne Howard of IRIE FM, plus scores of others!
Birthdays
Then belated birthday wishes to the absolutely charming Valarie Juggan-Brown of the Guardsman Group, who celebrated her birthday on Monday the 8th. Dr Donna Hope Marquis will celebrate her special day tomorrow, Boyd Chin and the charming Millicent Lynch share the 15th and the fabulous Diane Levy will celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, June 16, at her Florida home. And come next Thursday, the 18th, Transport Minister Mike Henry will celebrate his special day with the word being it will be an intimate to-do!
Many happy returns y'all!
Michael Di Valero was an Ultimate Man of Hedonism contestant and he and his Colombian girlfriend returned to Negril for the event. Both are now residents of New Jersey.
From left: Abraham Salmon, second runner-up in the Ultimate Men of Hedonism competition; Ahmed 'GQ' Rhodes, Mr Ultimate Man 2009/2010, and Marlon Birbridge, Jamaican contender and first runner-up in the Ultimate Men of Hedonism competition, pose backstage with group stylist Nyah Cheang at Hedonism II after the 13th staging of the contest. - Contributed photos
From left: Ahmed Rhodes, winner of the 13th annual Ultimate Men of Hedonism Calendar competition, Nyah Cheang, stylist for the event; Patrick Coleman, Ultimate Men Jamaican contender, Shanetta Sapp and Jason Stenhouse, group coordinators, representing WINC Promotions out of the US.