82 I SALAMANDER 2023

It ’ s been 20 years since Joan

Coore became executive housekeeper at Half Moon , Salamander ’ s luxury resort in Montego Bay , Jamaica . Though she had an extensive background in the hospitality industry , her journey eventually led her to take over Half Moon ’ s upholstery shop , a highly unusual internal department .

“ Many times , housekeepers have a hard time maintaining things due to heavy traffic and non-durable materials ,” Coore says . “ I had knowledge of sewing and now I was in housekeeping so I could marry the two and pick the right things . So , it was fun doing that .”

In the years since , Coore has been promoted to interior décor and design manager , giving her the chance to help design and maintain the rooms at the property . Here , she discusses the path that led her to Half Moon , and why she enjoys her work so much .

SALAMANDER : What does your current position entail ? JOAN COORE : I maintain all of the rooms at Half Moon . When something has to be changed or upgraded , I help oversee the changes , and make the adjustments accordingly .

S : What do you enjoy most about your job ? JC : I am allowed to be creative and that is what I really like . I love creating things and problem solving , and this job is full of that .

S : Is it true that you make furniture and draperies on-site at Half Moon ? JC : The woodwork shop reproduces a variety of furniture for the hotel . We also have to maintain the property so the woodwork shop is there not just for décor , but for the entire property — doors , windows , whatever it is that needs to be done . We do import fabrics and then we make our drapery from scratch , as well as sofa upholstery .

S : Tell us about the clothing label you used to run . JC : I worked as a sales rep for a garment manufacturing company , Rose Knits , which made T-shirts . And when my husband joined me in Jamaica two and a half years later , we bought the business . I had a little bit of sewing experience as a child with my mother , but once we took over the factory , it was a different ballgame because now I needed to know how to grade a pattern from small to medium to large . So , I was forced to go and learn how to do this . From there , I was able to make my own clothing designs . We did mainly beachwear and resortwear , which was sold to the shops on the north coast .

S : How did you begin working on the design side of things at Half Moon ? JC : Three weeks after I got here , the lady who was running the upholstery shop left . I had a background in garment manufacturing so they asked me if I could do the upholstery shop . I was executive housekeeper and I took on the job and did both for a number of years , from 2002 to 2007 . Then , we decided two departments was too much for me alone so I took on the design role and I ’ ve been doing that ever since .

S : What makes you feel most accomplished when working at Half Moon ? JC : When a guest walks into a room , they might not realize what design work went into it for it get to that stage . I see problems as a challenge , and I have to come up with a solution of how we ’ re going to fix something and make it look good .

S : What activities do you recommend for those visiting the island ? JC : To tell you the truth , I am a homebody and I don ’ t really go too many places outside of Half Moon very often – although there are lots of beautiful attractions surrounding the resort . However , I did recently go to Ahhh Rasnatango Gallery and Garden and I really enjoyed it . It was a very peaceful place ; it ’ s up in the hills and the art there — there are lots of things to appreciate .