Concept under fire

BARBADOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY PRESIDENT ANDY ARMSTRONG in discussion with environmental consultant Fraser Young. (Nigel Browne)

By Natasha Beckles | Mon, April 23, 2012 - 12:00 AM

SOME MEMBERS of the local business community are adamant that Almond Beach Village should not continue as an all-inclusive resort when it comes under new ownership.

The 400-room property is scheduled to close monthend after owners Neal & Massy revealed that they could no longer continue to pump money into the loss-making Almond Resort Inc. group of which it is a member.

Several high-profile businessmen have indicated their interest in the property, including construction magnate Bjorn Bjerkhamn of Jada Construction Limited, Jamaican hotelier Gordon “Butch” Stewart of the Sandals all-inclusive hotel group, and Paul Doyle, owner of The Crane Resort.

Following a presentation by Doyle at the Broad Street Journal’s Breakfast Club meeting last Tuesday at Hilton Barbados, members of the audience appealed to him to do away with the all-inclusive concept if he is successful in his bid.

Read the full story in today's BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY.