The Jamaica Star :: Entertainment :: RTI promises a red-hot summer

Kandré McDonald, Freelance Writer

Left: These two are only warming up for the RTI weekend when they attended the Red Stripe Summer Kick-Off Party, held at the National Housing Trust car park, Park Boulevard, New Kingston, on Tuesday. Right: This lady in red turns up the heat on the dancefloor at the Red Stripe Summer Kick-Off party. - Winston Sill photos

"What makes RTI special is the fact that people can look forward to exclusive parties. Stages is only held once a year, and the same can be said about Colours, Pretty in Pink and Wild Sides. We are the inventors of the original event and concept. We bring people to Negril to party for a weekend. When I said that I was going to have nine parties in one weekend they used to laugh at me and say that I was mad," reasoned Alex Chin of Absolute Entertainment.

Seven years later and the Negril invasion is still going strong. With Red Stripe as its partner, the Absolute Entertainment family has once again set its focus on the Western-most end of the island.

Red summer launch

Red Stripe officially launched Red Summer on Tuesday night atop the NHT roof, New Kingston, with the Bredren Summer Kick Off Party. If the stylish and fashionable launch was anything to go by, then one can expect great things from parties that Red Stripe is aligned with throughout the summer.

The setting was soothing and reflected the Bredren theme under which Red Stripe now stages its events. The cool wind, the music and the people were wonderful and so, too, were the food and beverages.

The dance floors were strategically placed in central locations to the 'Bredren Endz', which means that everyone was involved in the continuous action throughout the night. Although the focus was to be on what Red Stripe had planned for the remainder of the summer, the patrons seemed locked in time and were making the most of the moment. For those of us who went to get information, it was hard trying to keep focused. The partying was happening and the vibe breathtaking.

Red Summer was launched in an unprecedented manner at 10 p.m. Patrons were told to look on screens located throughout the venue and within 10 minutes Safia Cooper, brand manager for Red Stripe, and Alex Chin had explained everything. Then the partying, which did not really stop, was on again.

Global-themed parties

Red Stripe Temptation Isle will be called 'Destination RTI - where the world parties this year and will feature a global theme fused with Red Stripe's Bredren theme. All individual events being staged will adopt a popular party location from various spots across the world and theme their décor, music and vibe accordingly.

From July 31 to August 3, Negril will be buzzing with parties that will feature the likes of DJ Pro Style from 106 & Park, DJ Lennox from West Palm Beach and DJ Entyce, none of whom is affiliated with Jamaica. And if Kurt Riley and Nico Bam Bam, who were in the house pumping the beats, are in Negril, then the musical vibes are sure to 'sell off.'

For information on RTI, you can visit ATI.com. Yes, that is correct, ATI.com, as Chin explained: "We still retain the original ATI for our email address because that is where it all started."

Left: These models are promoting one of the many RTI parties when they attended the Red Stripe Summer Kick-Off party. Right: These Red Stripe girls are feeling the heat at their Summer Kick-Off party.