Ending months of speculation about the future of the Starwood brand at the Nassau Beach Resort, Baha Mar has announced that spanish hotel chain Meliá Hotels International will take over the operation of the hotel, with its rebranding to be followed by an extensive refurbishment.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts will pull its Sheraton brand from the Cable Beach hotel property, with Meliá taking over operations on the first of next month, turning it into an all-inclusive resort.
The agreement formalizing the brand takeover was signed yesterday by Sarkis Izmirlian, chairman of Baha Mar Ltd. and Meliá Hotels International Chairman Gabriel Escarrer.
In a release issued by Baha Mar, the company said the “renewal” of the 694-room Meliá Nassau Beach Resort will be completed by December 2014, without any interruption to the guest experience.
“The thorough refurbishment plan is focused on upgrading and adapting the hotel to Meliá’s demanding brand standards. Upon completion of renovations and simultaneously with the opening of Baha Mar, it will be renamed Meliá at Baha Mar.
“Highlights of the refurbishment will be new restaurant concepts, updated pools and an enhanced lobby area, all designed with the guests’ utmost comfort and customer experience in mind, a Meliá signature,” said Baha Mar.
As earlier reported by Guardian Business, it is understood that Starwood may have been unhappy with the deterioration in the condition of the Nassau Beach Resort, with conditions no longer considered to be up to standards compatible with the hotel’s brand globally.
While this was never confirmed, sources suggested that the company may have wanted Baha Mar to invest more in the property than it had been willing to.
Sandals Resorts Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart added fuel to the speculation of Starwood’s pending exit last month when he revealed that his company had considered turning the property into an addition to his company’s resort chain, which already operates the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort on the Cable Beach strip.
It is not clear based on yesterday’s statement who will be responsible for paying for the upgrades that will take place now that Meliá has committed to bringing the hotel under its brand umbrella, and Robert Sands, senior vice president of administration and external affairs for Baha Mar, declined to comment on their value yesterday.
The Meliá Nassau Beach Resort will be the first hotel in the English-speaking Caribbean for the rapidly expanding Spanish global group, which operates over 350 hotels in 40 countries at present.
“Meliá brings a wonderful, upscale name with global recognition and exceptional values to our brand portfolio at Baha Mar,” said Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar’s chairman and chief executive officer.
“The company’s expertise in the European, Latin American and Russian markets will further support Baha Mar in attracting a worldwide clientele. In addition, Baha Mar will be proud to offer Meliá’s all-inclusive resort experience, which is a leader in one of the fastest growing segments in vacation travel.”
Gabriel Escarrer, chairman of Meliá Hotels International, noted that “the addition of the new Meliá Nassau Beach and the prospect of the future Meliá at Baha Mar being part, within a year, of one of the most ambitious hotel and leisure projects in recent decades, is a new source of pride for our brand.”
Meanwhile, Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, welcome the company to The Bahamas, stating that it will “help to attract international visitors who prefer the convenience of an all-inclusive resort.”
“Meliá Hotels International’s global reputation for quality and guest service will be a tremendous asset as The Bahamas seeks to increase international airlift.”
Article Credit: Nassau Guardian
No comments:
Post a Comment