SAD NEWS
FOR HYATTS CARIBBEAN HOLDINGS: After almost 50 years of
business, the Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club will
cease operations and close on May 31. The Dorado Beach Hotel Corp.,
which owns the resort, said it would terminate its management
contract with Hyatt on the same date, citing the expense of
renovations and upkeep -- a consequence of the shortcomings of a
facility designed 50 years ago, according to Richard Schulze,
president of DBHC. The 262-room property, set on 1,000 beachfront
acres in Dorado, about 20 miles west of San Juan, opened in 1958;
Hyatt Hotels Corp. has managed the property since 1985. The
facilities no longer fulfill the expectations and requirements of
our guests, Schulze said. Todays travelers have more choices and
alternatives, which include state-of-the-art accommodations. The
nearby Hyatt Hacienda del Mar Vacation Club Resort (the former
Hyatt Regency Cerromar Beach Resort) is a separate operation, which
will not be affected by the resorts closure. In addition, the golf
club and the four 18-hole courses will continue to operate.
THE PUERTO
RICO TOURISM CO. is hopeful that a new owner will come
forward so that the Hyatt Dorado Beach can remain a tourist
destination. Chuck Floyd, COO and executive vice president of Hyatt
Hotels Corp., said Hyatt will do all in our power to assist our
loyal employees who have served this property for so long. The
resort is Hyatts sole hotel property in Puerto Rico and currently,
one of just three Hyatt facilities in the Caribbean (not including
the vacation club property). The others are Hyatts 360-room resort
in Aruba and its 289-room Grand Cayman facility, which has been
closed since Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, except for the 53
beachfront suites in a separate location across the road from the
main hotel. Although Hyatt has not announced its plans for Puerto
Rico following the hotels closure, we are committed to regaining
our presence on this island as soon as the opportunity arises,
Floyd said.
PACKAGE
DEALS
" Mark Travel Corp.
added Island Outpost properties to its Caribbean product lineup.
Air and land arrangements for Island Outposts resorts can now be
booked through Funjet Vacations, TransGlobal Vacations, Spirit
Vacations, United Vacations and Vacations by Adventure Tours.
Island Outposts Jamaican resorts include Jakes on Treasure Beach;
Goldeneye in Oracabessa; The Caves in Negril; and Strawberry Hill
in Irish Town; meanwhile, Pink Sands is located on Harbour Island,
the Bahamas. Sample three-night rates via Funjet Vacations to Jakes
in Jamaica, with air from Washington (Dulles) start at $680 per
person, double. To book, visit www.vaxvacationaccess.com.
" Sunset Resorts in
Jamaica -- Sunset at the Palms in Negril; Sunset Jamaica Grande
Resort in Ocho Rios; and Sunset Beach Resort & Spa in Montego
Bay -- is offering a 25% discount on bookings made by April 12 for
travel through Dec. 22. Participating operators are Gogo Worldwide
Vacations, Air Jamaica Vacations and American Airlines
Vacations.
ROLODEX
" Portia
Simpson-Miller, a former minister of tourism, local government and
community development, will be installed as Jamaicas head of
government on March 30 when P. J. Patterson, outgoing prime
minister, retires. Simpson-Miller joins a growing field of females
in top regional roles, including Berthia Parle, president of the
Caribbean Hotel Association; Jamaican Dr. Carol Jacobs, chairman of
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS; and Pamela Richards, chairman of the
Caribbean Tourism Organization.
" Peter Davies was
named CEO of BWIA, replacing Nelson Tom Yew, who served as interim
CEO for the past two years. Davies most recently was CEO at SN
Brussels Airlines, the spinoff of Sabena.
" Nikoyan Roberts
is the new chairman of the Grenada Board of Tourism, replacing
Jocelyn Sylvester-Gairy, who was named director of
tourism.
" Lorraine Headley
was named director general of tourism for Antigua and
Barbuda.