Sandals Royal on schedule

The newest Sandals resort is set to be completed on time.

With a price tag of US$170 million, the 222-room Sandals Royal is scheduled to be opened by December this year, and according to Public Relations Director for Sandals Eastern Caribbean Sunil Ramdeen, it will not only enhance the brand, but also Barbados.

Highlighting that this will be the largest single investment of any of its 16 resorts, he echoed sentiments of Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart that it would be “the resort of the future”.

“It is going to be our latest and most innovative resort that we have done yet, which means that there is a lot of attention already being placed on Barbados. It will have innovations that we have not seen yet in the Caribbean,” he said, while revealing that one of these features would be that of sky pools.

“Essentially, persons will be able to book to stay at one and can enjoy all of the amenities of both, except the rooms. There will be no barrier wall, so it will be one massive resort with two hotel names that persons can venture back and forth,” Sandals Barbados Public Relations Manager David Hinds told The Barbados Advocate.

Regarding the actual time frame, Hinds said, “In some areas, we are ahead of schedule, so we are very confident that we will be ready to open come December, with completion by November.”

Attributing this to the “stellar” work being produced by the workmen, 95 per cent of whom are Barbadian, Ramdeen said that at its current phase 1 000 persons are employed on the project.

While not as yet privy as to whether or not Royal will fall under the same or a similar concessional arrangement as the first resort, the two stressed that it would continue with its partnership with local farmers through the Barbados Agricultural Society.

“Our commitment to local farmers remains the same. Currently, we have a very strong relationship with the BAS and this will increase,” Hinds stated.

Around 600 persons are expected to be employed at Sandals Royal. (JMB)