MONTHS AFTER STARTING operations here, Sandals Resorts International is already having a positive impact on the tourism sector.
It has strong bookings from April to December, during the traditional slow period, which could be redirected to other hotels.
Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman of Sandals, said yesterday that the bookings it had received for its property in St Lawrence, Christ Church, which will be closed for major renovations, could be redirected to other properties.
“Our guests are given the option to cancel their bookings with us for the summer and stay with other resorts in Barbados, whilst we are upgrading.
“We did not want to close our resort as we are always cognizant of the ripple effect this would have on the foreign exchange and general economy of the island. But there was no way we could keep the resort open with guests on property and effect the type of large-scale upgrading we require to bring the resort up to Sandals service levels,” Stewart added.
Sandals recently announced a US$65 million enhancement programme for the property that will be undertaken during the April to December period.
