Hilton set to start receiving club guests in April
By Barry Alleyne
barryalleyne@nationnews.com
Enter Hilton Grand Vacations into the mix.
With visitor arrivals on the rise for 2019, another major player is set to roll out within the next two months.
Hilton Grand Vacations at the Crane in St Philip will receive its first guests in April, and the project is also within budget, Chief Commercial Officer of Crane Resorts, Leroy Browne revealed to the Sunday Sun.
“There have been no delays in the project. The property is now available for reservations by Hilton Grand Vacations Club members, and the first HGVC members are expected in April this year,” Browne added.
He expects the properties to be filled quickly.
“Sales began in November last year, and have been showing solid consumer demand,” the senior Crane Resorts official noted.
Hilton Grand Vacations (Barbados) Limited, a subsidiary of Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV), acquired its first group of interests in the Crane Resort on September 7, 2018, setting in motion the plans for the Grand Vacations timeshare guests.
The company is set to spend BDS $54.6 million on the project over the next three years.
First hotel
The Crane, founded as this island’s first hotel way back in 1887, is the oldest continuing accommodation property in the region, and will be HGVC’s first foray into the Englishspeaking Caribbean. Only active HGVC members will be allowed to book residences on the 40 acres of beachfront property.
The new resort’s many amenities include a 1.5 acre cascading cliff-top pool complex, a day spa, Kid’s Club, many gardens, seven restaurants and many beverage options.
Some suites come with their own large swimming pools with corner tower plunge pools and ground floor infinity pools.
HGV boss Mark Wang is expecting the project to make a splash for its members.
“Our owners tell us how much they love beach vacations, so we couldn’t be more excited to offer our first Caribbean destination within a world-class resort and a spectacular location,” said Wang, president and CEO, when the project was launched last September.
“This new project is one more way we’re continuing to expand our brand presence and maximise customer experience.”
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. is recognized as a leading global timeshare company, with headquarters in Orlando, Florida in the United Sates of America.
HGV develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations.
The timeshare weeks that will be available to HGV owners and guests will be branded “Hilton Grand Vacations at The Crane”.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley has said the Grand Vacations project would be a tremendous addition to boosting the island’s marketing efforts, securing airlift out of the United States, and to creating the platform for additional construction and expansion of rooms in a critical area of the tourism market.
Hilton Grand Vacations at the Crane, St Philip property will start taking in timeshare guests in April. (GP)
