Former general director and chief executive director of the
Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), John Bell, says a brand hotel was important
to a tourist destination.
The Express contacted the tourism expert who now lives in
Trinidad following the recent announcement by Vanguard Hotel Ltd-the present
owner of the Hilton Tobago Golf and Spa Resort-that Hilton International was
terminating the lease agreement for the property effective May 15, 2008.
"Always there is a great deal of importance because it
is an international importance," he said.
"However, it does not have to be an international one,
there are Caribbean brands that are becoming very popular like Sandals, Almond
and Coco Reef. People who understand the needs of the Caribbean and its people
run them. I would be much happier seeing Hilton becoming associated with a
Caribbean success story rather than bringing in someone from the outside that
might or may not be successful."
It was in March that the Government announced its decision
to acquire full ownership of the Tobago hotel and to fully refurbish the
property. Those repairs will cost an estimated $45 million and will be carried
out by Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Ltd (e Teck),
the State company that owns 47 per cent shareholding in the hotel.
The hotel has been damaged by sea blast and the statement
said returning it to its full glory will be e Teck's priority.
Bell, who has worked in the Caribbean's hospitality industry
for over four decades, said there was great need for a strategic development
plan for tourism in Tobago.
"For people to want to come in and invest in a new
hotel they must first of all be comfortable with the strategic development of
the Government and the Tobago House of Assembly," he said.
"If a potential investor looks at the
island of Tobago and likes what he sees and likes what plans Government and
Tobago House of Assembly have, they will invest. If they look at it and see
there is no plan, and the destination has no strategic development, then the
chances are they will try something
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