Founded in 1982, Jartena Apartments Limited was formed by Mr Terence A. A. Jarrett Snr. This Jamaican family-owned and operated company, which is located at 1-5 Altamont Terrace in New Kingston started with the ambition of creating the "best little hotel" in Jamaica. The other directors of the company, being inexperienced at the time, went along for the ride. The idea was accepted with confidence and a twelve-unit apartment building situated at 1 Altamont Terrace was purchased to be the company's first venture into the hospitality sector.

The competition surrounding the property was fierce but it was felt that we could forge our own niche and initiated our philosophy of “the Home in the Hub". This is now the hotel's tag line. Ena Jarrett, then a secretary, left her paying job and took up the helm as General Manager and guided the transition from apartments to hotel.