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Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy (seated in excavator) officially breaks ground on the Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa Expansion Project, as Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon “Butch” Stewart (foreground) and other key officials take in the moment.

Tourism Minister welcomes Sandals expansion project

 

 
Given the positive impact the Sandals brand has had on Barbados in terms of improving product offerings in the hotel sector and helping to boost demand for the island as a destination, the Government is gladly giving its full backing to the new Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa Expansion Project.
 
Speaking yesterday at the official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the expansion project on location at the development site just beyond the entrance of Maxwell Coast Road in Christ Church, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy noted his delight with the investment being made by Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon “Butch” Stewart and his team.
 
“In 2015, we welcomed 591 000 visitors to Barbados, which was a new record and at least 20 000 of those persons would have stayed at the existing Sandals, in the 280 rooms that are there. So indeed we have seen the positive impact, the marketing might of Sandals, which of course benefits the entire destination,” Minister Sealy told those gathered.
 
“We are extremely thrilled to see that the investment is being intensified and taken to another level,” he added.
 
Minister Sealy also registered his delight with regard to the local employment opportunities that will be provided through the expansion project. Noting that Sandals has already employed approximately 600 locals to work in its all-inclusive 280 rooms resort, it was also pointed out that an equivalent number will be hired, to work at the new site. Furthermore, he remarked that Sandals should be saluted for ensuring that there is local involvement as well during the construction phase, given that local construction firms and subcontractors have been selected to work on the project.
 
Of all the amenities to come on stream with the new addition, which is scheduled to open in November 2017, Minister Sealy noted that he would single out the conference centre, since it is something he lobbied for.
 
 
Sandals addition to cater to MICE niche
 
“We for some time in Barbados have been struggling in what is called the MICE niche – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events – and while the Hilton has a modest facility, we do struggle a little. The Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre of course doesn’t have any rooms attached to it… (so) we have struggled in that very lucrative niche, because of a sheer lack of facilities,” Sealy said.
 
“We are still in the unfortunate position where if you want to seat 1 000 people banquet style in Barbados, there is no place where you can do that… and I think that it is good to see that Sandals is including such a facility in this expansion,” the Tourism Minister commented.
 
Noting that the existing Sandals resort is performing “way above average”, thanks in part to the local staff employed there, Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon “Butch” Stewart meanwhile thanked Minister Sealy, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Finance Christopher Sinckler, for the backing given to the new project.

 

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