Hyatt Hotels and Resorts is pulling out of
Grand Cayman after 20 years of service when its current management
contract expires on Dec. 31.
The Hyatt name will
be removed from the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman as well as the
53-suite Hyatt Regency Beach Suites complex, and management
responsibility will be handed over to the hotel's owners, Embassy
Investments Ltd.
According to a
statement from Global Hyatt Corp., the owners will continue to
independently operate the beach suites section under the name of
Grand Cayman Beach Suites.
The 230-room Hyatt
Regency hotel suffered significant damage from Hurricane Ivan in
2004 and has been closed ever since. Insurance disputes have
thwarted repairs and the hotel has remained idle on the inland side
of West Bay Road, the main hotel thoroughfare that fronts Seven
Mile Beach.
Diego Concha,
general manager, said that "nothing will change except for the
Hyatt name, and the Hyatt sales and reservations support team will
help with the transition period. Our relationship with the owner is
very strong and we want to make sure that all aspects of the new
operation are fully in place."
Charles Clifford,
Cayman Islands minister of tourism, said that there would be no
visible changes to the daily operations at the Beach Suites
complex,"other than the removal of the Hyatt name. Operating under
its new name of Grand Cayman Beach Suites, the property will be
assisted by Hyatt into 2008 to assure a smooth
transition."
Clifford said that
existing reservations and contracts would be maintained and that
Hyatt will contact customers, tour operators and travel with
details.
"Hyatt also will
work closely with the Dept. of Tourism to assist in getting out the
information," Clifford said.
In November, Hyatt
pulled out of Rum Point, an attraction featuring a beach, bar and
restaurant near North Point that the company had managed for
years.
Rum Point
Investment, the owner of the property, is now running the operation
there.
To
contact reporter Gay Nagle Myers, send e-mail to [email protected].