Tuesday 8 December 2009

"Not good enough..."


News that Sandals has axed Ocho Rios resort from its portfolio claiming that it no longer fits the brand image...

Melanie Mingas reported for TTG that:

"Sandals is to drop the River Villaggio Golf Resort & Spa complex in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, from its luxury portfolio...

Sandals has operated the resort for 15 years, leasing the land from The Sagicor group, but Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has declined to renew the lease beyond May 31, 2010...

In a statement, SRI said: “It is felt that the marketplace for the product has changed significantly and as a result it no longer fits in the Sandals luxury product range...

“Reluctantly the decision was made to hand back the property, and the requisite notice was given to the owners. By agreement, Sandals will continue operations there until July 30, 2010...

“Every effort will be made to accommodate displaced team members within the chain whether in Jamaica or across the Caribbean.”

SRI has assured customers they will honour existing bookings until July 30 next year. Tourists visiting after this date will be accommodated in other Sandals resorts on the island...

Sandals would not comment on the details of the decision to drop the resort. However, discussions on some consumer travel forums suggested that Sagicor had “significantly increased” the lease price...

Set in 20 acres of land on Jamaica’s north coast, the complex was a popular Sandals destination. Built in 1959, the Sagicor group took over the land in 1999, refurbishing and modernising the property...

No operator has yet been named to take over the lease..."

Not good news in these hard economic times.

To see this story in full, go to http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=3208370&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=3423429&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=3423429&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=3423429&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=3423429&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=3423429&articleTitle=Sandals%20axes%20Ocho%20Rios%20resort%20from%20portfolio

Barticus.

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