Hotel association loses largest member
The Grenada Grand Beach Resort. *Photo credit: www.theholidayplace.co.uk
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada Grand Beach Resort, the largest hotel on the Spice Isle, has withdrawn from the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA). It has given no reason for its decision.
The GHTA on Saturday confirmed the pull-out of the 234-room hotel, owned by Trinidadian businessman Issa Nicholas.
“We got notice last week and we had a very nice letter from them saying that they enjoyed the relationship with the association over the years and they gave no reason as to why they were pulling out and I had not had the opportunity yet to talk to the General Manager to find out the reason,” GHTA President Russ Fielden said.
“It is a real shame when the largest hotel on the island is not part of the Hotel and Tourism Association. It reflects quite badly on Grand Beach. I think they should participate and understand what the association can give them so I suspect that they may reconsider.”
As a GHTA non-member, the hotel would not be able to participate in international events associated with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).
The prime beach front land on which the Grenada Grand Beach Hotel sits has been at the centre of a political controversy after a pre-election attempt to sell the hotel failed.
On the 7th of July 2008, a day before General elections, the previous Keith Mitchell administration transferred ownership of the 24 acres on which the hotel sits to Time Burke, a company fronting for formula one driver Lewis Hamilton who is of Grenadian descent.
The change in ownership occurred while the land was still under a 99-year lease with Nicholas.
