Hilton Barbados profits coming in

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy, says that the Hilton Barbados Hotel has been making a profit.

 

Minister Sealy made the disclosure during his contribution to the debate on a resolution to guarantee a $12 million loan for Needham’s Point Holdings Limited from First Citizens Bank in the House of Assembly yesterday morning. He indicated that the hotel, which is a “proud emblem” of the island’s tourism industry, has seen significant income growth. The Minister revealed that for 2016, to date the income to the Government of Barbados has been $2.424 million, 56 per cent above that for the same period in 2015.

 

“So in essence the hotel is making money, it is registering profits. It is a Government-owned entity that is not costing the Government, the people, the taxpayers a red cent; far from that it is earning for us. And therefore it is in that context that the financing was easy to access; it is in that context that we have to continue to preserve and protect the assets, and therefore this refurbishment programme has been skilfully scheduled to occur over a period of time such that operations can continue,” he said.

 

He explained that phase one of the work was carried out in the summer months when the hotel was less busy, and the same approach will be taken for the second phase to renovate the remaining rooms. The refurbishment work includes replacing the drapes, beds, tiles and vanity sets and the toilets. Additionally, he said plans are on stream to upgrade the Prime Minister’s Suite.

 

Moreover, he said that the hotel is set to have five additional rooms at the end of the refurbishment process. According to Sealy, with a new spa being created on the property, the five rooms which were previously used for the spa will return to the rooms’ pool, moving the total number of rooms to 355.

 

His comments came as he said that the Hilton Barbados, which was acknowledged by Hilton International as the best of its hotels in the Western Hemisphere, has been enjoying great occupancy and has been providing employment to many Barbadians. (JRT)