Bigger Sandals

Article by ROY R. MORRIS

SANDALS RESORT’S love affair with Barbados is about to blossom in a huge way.

The regional hotel group is now finalising plans with various Government agencies for an expansion of its Casuarina property in Dover, Christ Church, that will see it become by far the largest hotel operator on the island.

In fact, tourism sources disclosed yesterday that the Gordon “Butch” Stewart-led Sandals chain would shortly begin adding 282 rooms to the 240 it opened just over a year ago in a $100 million-plus reconstruction of the former Casuarina Beach Hotel at Dover.

Given the popularity of the brand and its occupancy record, sources close to the project said the expanded property should accommodate between 1 000 and 1 200 guests on any given day.

Currently, the only operator within the region of 500 rooms on the island is Elegant Hotels, but these are spread over six properties, five of which are along the platinum West Coast. (RRM)

Please read the full story in today’s Daily Nation, or in the eNATION edition.