Our Prediction ABV Will Go The Way Of PBC Gathers Steam ...

Hotel hope

"The controversial Four Seasons project could have a new saviour, with a multi-millionaire investor here saying he was willing to take over the stalled project.

Eager to see something done with the 32-acre Clearwater Bay, Black Rock, St Michael site, a frustrated Andrew Stewart, who has investments in a number of hotels and restaurants here, said he was willing to seriously look at taking over the development, but it would have to come with “the right terms”.

“Yes, if it came on the right terms it is something that I and my investors would look at with interest,” said Stewart, the chairman of the stockbroking and investment management firm Ravenscroft Limited.

Recalling that many of his friends had invested in the project to construct a 110-room hotel and 35 private villas, Stewart told Barbados TODAY it was disheartening that the project had ground to a halt.

“Every time I go pass there, you know, there is no building work going on. Why don’t we actually do something with it? Some of the highest profile people in the world put their names down for it. Let’s try and get it organized; cut all the nonsense of whatever it is and build the bloody hotel there ...”

Read more: https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/01/16/hotel-hope

Are Sue Springer & Robin Paterson Whistling Dixie?

"Royal Westmoreland, a Barbados landmark, is up for sale on the international market but the local tourism industry isn’t worried as this may result merely in a changing of hands. Prime luxury international real estate dealers and financial publications today began announcing that British owner, John Morphet, wants to part with the 750-acre west coast property for US$75 million. “It has been known for some time that there was a possibility of Royal Westmoreland being put up for sale. Now this is obviously what has happened,” Executive Vice-President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Sue Springer, told Barbados TODAY. Morphet’s reported reason for giving up ownership of this property that annually attracts the likes of British Premier League football star, Wayne Rooney, and retired English cricket captain, Michael Vaughn, was that now in his 60s, he feels to be getting on too much in age that tires him after 96 visits to this island in 10 years. “I’m not getting any younger and it needs more time than I’d like to give it,” he said of the spread that includes 225 villas, a clubhouse, restaurant, spa, and a golf course. “It is an incredible real estate property and we look forward [and are] hoping that whoever purchases this whole estate will keep it in its current use and won’t change it,” Springer said. The Financial Times quoted Chief Executive of Sotheby’s International, Robin Paterson, as saying it was “very unusual to get an entire resort for sale” in the Barbados market. “This is the only resort of this scale, reputation and longevity in the southern Caribbean,” Paterson added. Springer does not see the announced sale having any negative impact on the image of Barbados tourism. “No, I don’t think so because things could be for sale at any time; it could be a hotel, it could be an estate like this, whatever. Things change hands the world over all the time. “It sends that message because the gentleman that owns it has accepted that he is at the crossroads and he wants to stay closer to home.” Morphet, who has a rags to riches story, having taken over a struggling UK farm from his parents, had last year indicated plans to purchase land from the Westmoreland estate to build an additional 200 properties. That planned investment was reportedly to the tune of US$500. These plans may not be derailed by a change in ownership because the Barbados real estate market is now being seen as an investment opportunity on the rise. The Sotheby’s chief executive reportedly told the Financial Times that the Barbados market is beginning to see an inflow of international professional property investors such as hotel operators. Springer agrees with that assessment, and believes the announced sale speaks well for the property market." Source: http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2015/03/14/for-sale

Beaches Heywoods Being Pushed Back

Have the ghosts of Paradise Beach Club already landed in Haywoods?  Are we now seeing emerging one of the reasons why Sandals' Butch Stewart recently out of the blue bought Almond Beach Village outright off the hands of the government of Barbados at bargain basement?  It is suspected that the other reason had to do with the nascent calls from the operators of the section of ABV that's open for the entire St. Peter property to be turned over them for a quick and cheap re-opening.  Now that Butch got his way, any deviation from announced plans the question must be asked whether he is beginning to put ABV on the ice as much he did to PBC a generation ago:  

"The much talked about construction of the Beaches Resort at the former Almond Village property in St Peter could be delayed.
Although not saying how long the setback was anticipated to be, Gordon Butch Stewart, chairman of the parent company Sandals Resort International, said it was unlikely that the planned multi-million-dollar project would get off the ground in the first quarter of next year as initially announced.
In February, Stewart told Barbados TODAY that the plan was to start construction in the middle of April 2015, with an expectation that it would be completed in about 22 months.
However, when asked last Friday if the plans were still on course, Butch would only say: “We are working towards that [date, but] it is probably a bit further down in the year . . . We are juggling a lot of things right now and there is a lot of work taking place on that Beaches design.”"

Source: http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2014/08/19/work-on-beaches-resort-could-be-delayed


 

Ramshackle Catspradled

"The popular Ramshackle Bar in Mount Standfast, St James, has closed its doors, leaving 15 workers jobless.

According to co-owner Maxine Depeiza, the closure resulted from her business partner’s decision to pull out of the business and the owners of the land not wishing the operation to continue.

Ramshackle closed at the end of November and Depeiza said many of her former employees were mothers of young children.

She spoke to the SATURDAY SUN yesterday as she oversaw the removal of materials which she had added to the wooden structure in 2010 after leasing the property from owners who lived overseas."

Source: http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/bar-closed/

Techno Jetty

Sign petition to have jetty repaired here -http://j.mp/StownJet

BARBADOS GOVERNMENT GIVES BUTCH STEWART CONCESSIONS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

"The Barbados government has granted millions of dollars in concessions to Jamaican hotel magnate Gordon “Butch” Stewart who recently signed an agreement to operate a Beaches Resort and Sandals hotel there.

According to an article written by Roy Morris, Editor-in-Chief of the Barbados Nation newspaper, for the next 25 years, Beaches and Sandals will be exempted from paying all import duties, taxes including VAT, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on the importation or local purchase on all capital goods needed for the equipping, operation and promotion of the hotel, as well as on all food and beverages. 

When that tax holiday period is over, Sandals will only be required to pay half of the “applicable rates and taxes prevailing” for the next 15 years. 

The details of the concessions were contained in a letter dated Tuesday, November 5th, 2013, and signed by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Chris Sinckler.

The Nation newspaper said the tax holiday period began on Tuesday, the day before Sandals officially began operation in Barbados and encompasses the period before the start date of the commercial operation of the hotel, and while it is being acquired, expanded and developed. Sandals in Barbados will be managed by Josef Zellner, who once managed Beaches Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Barbados Minister of Finance further advised that the letter was only interim approval which shall remain valid until replaced by a permanent letter together with the appropriate statutory instrument to be issued by him.

What the newspaper describes as a “sweetheart deal”, includes the waiver of:-

(a) all import duties, taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever, including Value Added Tax, on the importation or local purchase of:

(i) all capital goods such as building materials, articles of hotel equipment, furniture. furnishings, fixtures, fittings, construction machinery, boats, watercraft, vehicles for the Hotel's use, televisions, computer equipment, telephones, software, hardware, shrubs and plants, garden and agriculture equipment, promotional and marketing materials for operating the Hotel and for the cyclical re-furbishing undertaken from time to time in order to maintain the Hotel to the standards of the Sandals brand;

(ii) consumables for the operation of the Hotel, including but not limited to operating supplies, soft furnishings, printed materials, guest supplies, spa supplies, paper, stationery, books and spare parts for equipment; 

(iii) food, alcohol and beverages;

(b) all import duties taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on all vehicles required for the operation of the Hotel including vehicle assigned to senior managers;

(c) all import duties taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on personal and household effects and vehicles for senior staff (as outlined in (b) above) who are contracted to work in Barbados and are not citizens or permanent residents of Barbados;

(d) Value Added Tax on the provision of services that directly relate to construction works or cyclical refurbishment of the Hotel undertaken from time to time in order to maintain the Hotel to the standards of the Sandals brand;

(e) all import duties taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on all vehicles required for the operation of the Hotel including vehicle assigned to senior managers; 

(f) all import duties taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on personal and household effects and vehicles for staff who are contracted to work in Barbados and are not citizens or permanent residents of Barbados.

Jordan Samuda, group manager, procurement division of Sandals International, said the conglomerate was delighted with the terms of the concessions, which he described as competitive.

“The product that we will put out in Barbados will be one of the best that we put out anywhere in the Caribbean,” Samuda told the Nation via telephone from Jamaica.

Samuda said he did not think Sandals would have been able achieve the excellence their brand represented without the concessions, and noted that the tax breaks would allow them to able to keep their product in tune with the times.

“They allow you to put a product out for your guests that can compete with anybody worldwide. . . . Duty free concessions allow us to up the ante on the food and beverage product. You have the physical aspect which you can continue improving and continue investing in, you also have the daily food and beverage product that you are able to provide. 

The Sandals executive praised the efficiency of Sinckler and the various civil servants, Customs and Port Authority for facilitating the group to swiftly get the relevant documentation and materials processed between the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Government on October 18 and the hotel’s opening on Wednesday.

He was particularly impressed with Sinckler, the Barbados Minister of Finance, saying: “Obviously the minister understands and can see what this level of investment in Barbados can do and will do.”

In his recent ministerial statement on the MOU between Government and Sandals International, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy said the arrival of Sandals marked a “seismic shift for the tourism industry in Barbados” in its effort to capture a bigger share in the very competitive global tourism market.

“It is expected that these two properties will contribute annually in net terms, that is, the money to be retained by the taxi drivers providing transfers, the farmers; the 1 500 workers; the utility companies and others an amount in excess of BDS$100 million to the Barbadian economy.”"

Source: http://suntci.com/barbados-government-gives-butch-stewart-concessions-worth-millions-of-dolla-p1121-108.htm

Is that a glimmering light at the end of the 4Seasons tunnel I see?

Clearly, if the PM and the Minister of Finance are hiding from you, and you are being schmoozed by the St. Lucy MP (no offense intended), we already know where this deal is going - if it goes anywhere at all.  All debts, including all political debts, must be paid before this project ever sees the light of day again.  Click here to read about it all. 

Just when we were beginning to think the ABV miasma couldn't get any worse, it just did ...

Rump Almond

"BY ROY R. MORRIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | SUN, OCTOBER 27, 2013 - 12:11 AM

Before Sandals takes one step into St Peter, Barbados will get another taste of Almond.

Well placed sources have revealed that the Ministry of Tourism has selected MW Sun Hotels Inc., owned by wealthy businessman Bernard Weatherhead, to reopen and operate the now mothballed Almond Beach Village at Heywoods, St Peter, for at least one year.

In fact, in correspondence obtained by the SUNDAY SUN, Weatherhead explained to chief executive officer of Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTI), Stuart Layne, that with an injection of $5.1 million from Government and speedy movement by Government’s operatives, they could have 138 rooms and related facilities ready to receive guests in mid January, missing only the first few weeks of the 2013-2015 winter tourist season. BTI is looking after Government’s interest at Almond Resorts.

Government is anxious to get the once popular 500-room all-inclusive resort reopened again, but recognize that even with the agreement with Sandals of Jamaica to take over the property, bulldoze and rebuild it as a family resort, its doors will not be thrown open until 24 to 36 months after construction begins – and the date for that could be as much as two years away, sources said."


2 comments

POSTED BY TONY WEBSTER
As Alice said, "this gets curiouser and curiouser"

The Mad Hatter, apparently, is in charge of plan A; plan B, and also plan "maybe". What a fantastic "mortar"...replete with two pestles, and endless of "possibilities" therein!

We could of course, retain the Almond at ground level, and then build the Sandals, on level two...with a lovely view. On the roof-top, a heliport would allow for Virgin Atlantic passengers, to be swiftly ferried to and from GAIA...a first in the Caribbean! To facilitate a smooth transition, (if our patience is rewarded this time around), we could coin a catch-all brand: "SANDMONDS". Get the URL registered now!

Mr. Editor: you sure you ain't pick up de wrong end of de stick?

POSTED BY ORSON ARTHUR
I know we have people in Barbados that
can get that hotel going.
I don't trust Stuart as far as I can see him.
Always remember Paradise hotel. Now he would
like to tie this one up also. I agree that it can be back in operation and bring in some money for the country. MR. Weatherhead I know you are going to do a good job. May God be with you and your team"

Source: http://www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/almond-again/

The Slow-Selling/No-Selling "One Sandy Lane" (formerly The Sands) Just Hit The Jackpot

"Superstar Rihanna has splashed out $22million on a beachside home on the Caribbean island of Barbados - after renting the same property last year.  The 25-year-old singer has bought a home at the luxurious One Sandy Lane resort on the island where she was born and raised.  Rihanna always returns to her native Barbados for Christmas and last year revealed she rented the same five-bed condo and planned on her mother Monica Braithwaite and younger brother Rajad joining her."

Read more ...

Will Butch Stewart do to ABV what he did to PBC ...

... shutter it up and run it down for a million years, then dump it?  Can't say I am excited about this deal at all, at all, at all:


"The future of the Almond Beach Village property at Heywoods in St. Peter, as planned by Government, is starting to take shape.

Barbados TODAY has learnt that the Freundel Stuart Cabinet has determined it will purchase the property from Neal and Massy of Trinidad for US$53 million, with an initial cash payment of US$25 million and the balance of US$28 million being paid over three years at an interest rate that is still to be agreed between the two parties.

Additionally, after an initial Cabinet decision instructed the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. to work with Sandals Resort International “to have a Sandals Beaches Resort in Barbados within three to four weeks”, that body last week determined that Sandals be given the nod to operate and manage a rebuilt Almond under the Beaches brand, with an option to purchase the property at a future date.

In a very brief dismissal of the only competing written offer, a Cabinet document titled Long-term Operator for the Almond Beach Village at Heywoods, St. Peter, stated:

“Crane Resorts proposes to buy one-third of the property for one-third of the purchase price paid by the Government, with an option to purchase the remaining two thirds … in the future. The plan would be for the development of the villa accommodation for sale by way of time share. There is also a proposal for the short term operation of Almond…

“This proposal is quite similar to the existing Crane model, which involves building accommodation based on sales and may therefore take a full decade to fully realise its potential. It will therefore fail to achieve increased visitor arrivals in the next few years and will be unable to assist Barbados in protecting its airlift.”

On the other hand, the document explained, the Sandals proposal involved the building of a 426-room, all-inclusive family resort “which will allow Barbados to regain its share of the families market which was lost with the closure of Almond Resorts. These will be large family rooms with on average six persons per room.”

Based on the calculations made, this potentially will result in an additional 112,684 visitors to Barbados annually.

“This large number of visitors will protect airlift for the entire tourism industry in Barbados and contribute to an increase in visitor spending. It is also worthy of note that Almond, at its peak, accounted for an additional 25,000 visitors annually. The Sandals proposal would increase this number by a factor in excess of four…

“While it can be argued that the issue of a long-term operator for the Heywoods property should be the subject of a public tender, it is the view of the Ministry of Tourism that the need for the return of the room inventory to production is extremely urgent.

“In addition, it is also believed that a tendering process is unlikely to result in a better operator than Sandals since the only other major all-inclusive operator in the Caribbean region was Almond Resorts Inc., which is now closed.

“The Sandals proposal also addresses all of the national tourism objectives as follows:

* An increase in the number of long-stay visitors that come to Barbados each years; and

* Protection of existing airlift in critical source markets,” the document stated.

“It should be noted that Barbados stands to gain substantial exposure as a result of the marketing and promotional might of the Sandals brand. The company has indicated that experience in other destinations show that the mere announcement that a Sandals property is to be constructed … is enough to generate interest from the airlines.”

Given this approach, the Ministry of Tourism recommended that Cabinet invokes Section 239 of the Financial Management and Audit Act for authority to achieve its objective without inviting tenders, but instead through “direct negotiations in accordance with arrangements as the Cabinet directs”.

“The Ministry of Tourism is satisfied that this matter is urgent and that there are no other operators as capable as Sandals in assisting Barbados to maintain its share of the all-inclusive tourism market, while protecting airlift into Barbados,” Cabinet was told.

The challenge for Barbados with the Sandals proposal, however, is that it could take at least a month for an agreement to be finalised and a further 24 to 36 months of construction.

“This would mean that unless a short-term plan is developed there would be no activity at Heywoods over a three- to four-year period … when the tourism industry in Barbados is short of hotel rooms,” it added.

Following BTI investigations, it has been determined that it may be feasible to operate the 120-room southern block, which is still fully furnished with functioning utilities, to meet needs from the Canadian and United Kingdom markets. This would accommodate up to 8,700 visitors over a 12-month period."

Source: http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2013/09/11/almond-to-be-bulldozed-and-replaced-by-426-room-beaches-resort/

More Four Seasons Intrigue

One continues to wonder why a prestigious brand like Four Seasons Hotels And Resorts allows its flag to be dragged around in the mud in Barbados in this fashion:

"A group of Italian developers has cried foul over the pricing for restarting construction of the much-talked-about Four Seasons Resort and Residences project at Paradise, St Michael.

They claim that the stalled project is considerably over-priced and want the Freundel Stuart Government to get involved “to iron out a balanced and reliable solution based on fairness and transparency rather than greed and selfishness”.

“Value of the site (Four Seasons Resort and Residences project) is nowhere near the US$105 million,” Elio Raccah, spokesman for the group, told SUNDAY SUN in a telephone link-up from Italy.

“Someone asserts that the works have been paid about US$60 million but where has the remaining US$45 million added value to the project?”

But Avinash Persaud, executive chairman of Paradise Beach Limited, developer for the Four Seasons project, has dismissed the Italians’ claim and hinted that before monthend, a recommendation could be made to Government for the take-over of the former Paradise Beach Hotel site."

Source: NationNews.com

Pared Down Plans For Royal Westmoreland's Expansion Inching Forward ...Maybe?

"Efforts are on to salvage a $150 million luxury golf, residential and hotel project which has been waiting in the wings for more than three years.

Barbados TODAY has learnt that high-level talks involving senior members of the Freundel Stuart Administration and Royal Westmoreland are underway in an attempt to get that St. James luxury development’s expansion onto the nearby Lancaster Plantation property it owns underway.

Discussions have already been held with Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Senator Darcy Boyce is chairing a working group on the matter.

The major sticking point continues to be the granting of approval for the construction of a $4.4 million reservoir Royal Westmoreland officials said was necessary for the 18 hole championship golf course, hotel and other residences.

These developments were confirmed today by the Royal Westmoreland Construction Director, Ian Putley, who was cautiously optimistic about the likelihood a positive outcome within the coming months.

“We are currently in discussion with a working group led by Senator Darcy Boyce who is trying to get the confirmation of compliance with Town & Country Development Planning conditions letter,” the official told Barbados TODAY..."

Read more: Barbados Today

Update On Beachlands

"After years of sitting idle, a major West Coast luxury tourism project is about to take off.

All permissions for the four-acre, beach-front complex, which is being undertaken by British interests, have now been obtained, Barbados TODAY has learnt and soon construction equipment will be rolling on to the site south of Holetown and seaward of the Sunset Crest area of St. James.

A telephone call to Construction Director Pat Gill, of UK & European Investments, one of the British companies behind the project, confirmed that all approvals had been received.

However, he declined to provide any information on when the project would start, how much it would cost or any other details surrounding the project.

However, Ministry of Finance sources confirmed Government had been told that the project was projected to cost between $150 million and $160 million..."

Read more: Barbados Today

Rihanna Barbados 2012 Tourism Campaign

"In these recession hit times we all know that it's important to support local businesses, but who actually puts their money where their mouth is? Well, Rihanna, that's who... because the boundary smashing pop juggernaut took some of her hard earned cash back to where it all started for her, literally; to the island where she was born. The Bajan star headed to Bridgetown, Barbados where she shopped (much to the delight of mobbing fans) at a local market and it's adjacent cheap 'n' cheerful shops." Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2251885/Rihanna-turns-Rodeo-Drive-minute-Christmas-shopping-low-key-Barbados-market.html#ixzz2FouHLDsI Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

More Bad Press For The West Coast

"Something disturbing is happening on Barbados – the Caribbean experience is being drowned in a tsunami of greed and gravel. With tax dodgers, celebrities, footballers and bloated businessmen all flocking to the island prices have soared. Even my rich friend Lady Carol Parsons complains.

Once I used to think to myself “oh just relax and put it on the plastic, after all you are on holiday”. I do mean literally once. That occasion was when a meal for 5 at the Lonestar came to £650 and I was paying. After that I was more careful. If someone said that Villa Rosa or Chin Chin were the latest places to eat, I would be sure to avoid them.

The turning point came about 10 years ago when property started to boom, and especially on the West Coast around Holetown, originally developed by the likes of the Guinness and Cunard families. This was The Place To Be. Now it is jam packed with mansions from end to end. The latest is One Sandy Lane, a sort of beachside British Museum opposite the famous Sandy Lane golf course and Barbados’s answer to One Hyde Park, that Qatari monstrosity near Harrods in London..."

Read more: Barbados: Don’t Bother, Frankly

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Almond Intrigue

"Chief executive officer of Almond Resorts Inc., Ralph Taylor, is leading an initiative to stop the financially troubled hotel chain from going under.

Yesterday he met with staff of Almond Beach Village in St Peter and Almond Beach Club in St James to discuss a “buyout proposal” that would require staff and management to give up ten per cent of their salaries as an investment.

Taylor, who met with managers and supervisors on Monday, also plans to meet next week with staff at the third property, Almond Casuarina Beach in Christ Church.

A document distributed to staff asking them to indicate their interest in “participating in any employee buyout of Almond Resorts Inc.”, was reportedly met with mixed response."

Source: Almond bid -- NationNews Barbados

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More Trouble At Four Seasons In 2012

"The Four Seasons Resort project seems to have hit another snag.
The Times reported yesterday that two billionaire investors, music titan Lucian Grainge and oil mogul Aidan Heavey, have filed court action locally against the developers, Paradise Beach Limited, demanding their money back.
The Times has also stated that three other celebrities, including Simon Cowell, the producer of the international music competition The X-Factor, could also be in danger of losing their deposit investments of over BDS$90 million each.
“Both Mr Grainge – dubbed the “killer shark” after engineering last year’s surprise £1.2 billion (BDS$3.7 billion) takeover of EMI’s recorded music business – and Mr Heavey have separately filed claims in a Barbados court demanding that their deposits are returned,” the newspaper said."

Source: http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/resort-suits/

Four Seasons Barbados Update: Boondoggle and millstone around the necks of Bajan taxpayers?

Despite government's pledges and promises otherwise, the stalled Four Seasons project in Walmer Lodge/Black Rock is turning out to be a bigger and bigger millstone around the necks of the taxpayers of Barbados.  Word is now coming to light of yet another loan poor Third World people will have to payback in order for a few of the uber-rich/super-cool from the First World to have a place in the sun.  This is going to play so well at election time especially now that it is becoming clearer and clearer that there will still be nothing to show for all the time and money sunk in Clearwater Bay so far.

 "It will take more than the next winter, spring, summer, and fall to finally get one of the biggest brands in international tourism and hospitality on the Barbados landscape – and the price tag will be big.
According to Barbados TODAY investigations, the developers of the mega Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences have applied for a BDS $104 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to complete the hotel component of the slow-moving project, as efforts to restart overall construction intensify ..."  

Read more: Project push for Four Seasons Resort:

'via Blog this'

West Coast Getting The Sands II

Artist impression Palazatte Residences

A little thing like poor condo sales at The Sands just south of Sandy Lane is not stopping their imitators five or so miles up the west coast from going full throttle bringing even larger ultra-luxury apartments to the marketplace.  And, it doesn't seem the matter that they are going up next to equally empty and already hugely discounted condos at St. Peter's Bay in Road View, St. Peter.  

See also:  Mullins Bay Blog and Barbados TravelAdvisor 

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