What happens when a chance assignment to Jamaica, where you should only be spending three months, turns into 24 years? Ask Spanish economist and businessman Carlos Moleon who, in 2000, was rerouted at the 11th hour by his bosses in Spain from his planned assignment to Guatemala to a new deployment in Jamaica.

“I was supposed to be here for only three months to assist in building cell sites…towers for Digicel,” Moleón explained.

“That three months have turned into 24 years where I am now married and became a citizen of this beautiful country. I also have multiple businesses over time and am still looking to build on my portfolio.”

A hand on new developments

And what luck for Jamaica! That redeployment to Jamaica has seen Moleón’s fingerprints left on almost 4,000 Spanish hotel rooms for H10 Ocean in Falmouth, Trelawny, and Princess in Hanover.

He has also brought a new Secrets Resort to St Ann, for which construction should start in the next few months.

Moleón is also a director and co-founder of the VIP Lounges at the Montego Bay Sangster International Airport in St James and the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

He also has a construction company and is into high-end tourism villa rentals.

“Carlos Moleón has been and is instrumental in many of the Spanish hotels coming to Jamaica,” said executive chairman of Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC) Joy Roberts.

“He has been their man on the ground here in terms of property acquisition and in terms of getting them settled…seamlessly…in the country. He has been a major asset to everybody.” 

Executive director of Chukka Caribbean Adventures John Byles agrees.

“This has worked out very well for Jamaica. Carlos’s 24 years here have been nothing short of phenomenal…a true success story. He has been a catalyst…an asset…the man responsible for a lot of direct foreign investment…the same type of investments we hear our prime minister and the minister of investment and commerce talking about.”

Moleón’s bio

Carlos Moleón Rodríguez was born in Leon, Spain, and has a background in economics. His early education in Leon, with a year in the USA, was followed by an economics degree from the University of Madrid, with a major in foreign trade. 

After various positions in accounting and finance in the construction industry, Moleón moved from Spain to Jamaica in 2000. After a time as general manager for Avanzit Jamaica, he founded his own company, Calatel, in 2002. Under his tenure, Calatel grew to 300 employees and saw revenues of US$25 million per annum. 

In 2007 Moleón sold Calatel to Avanzit. In 2009 he founded Lost World Construction and won contracts to build Secrets Hotel and the Gran Bahia Príncipe extension.

Together with David Hall, he founded VIP Attractions in 2010 to build Club MoBay and Club Kingston at the respective airports. Moleón is the director in charge of the construction of the lounges as of mid-April 2011. 

Moleón is married to Amanda and is the father of three children. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling and music.

“Few persons I know could have made that successful transition from telecommunications into tourism,” said Mayor of St Ann’s Bay and Chairman of the island’s Cruise Shipping Council, Michael Belnavis.

“Looking at Carlos’s history and all that he has accomplished during those 24 years in Jamaica is nothing short of remarkable. That unexpected redeployment to Jamaica has been a massive win for us as it relates to our tourism and what he has been able to accomplish.”