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Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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GB all-inclusive fails to include all hotels By INDERIA SAUNDERS ~ Guardian Business Reporter ~ inderia@nasguard.com: Tourism launched its "Club Grand Bahama" last week with nine hotels included in the all-inclusive program and several others knowing next to nothing about the transformative initiative. "No we have not heard anything about it," said Lisbeth Rutzou, manager of the 30-room Bell Channel Inn located in Port Lucaya. "I would like to hear the details about it. "I'm sure it's good for tourist to come in and see everything is paid for. . . it could help us get some new customers." It's a helping hand that would go a long way for this and other hotels, considering the continuing dry spell in Grand Bahama. However, despite Tourism's claim that the program was essentially a way to attract tourists and spread wealth around the island, a Guardian Business investigation has found that many hotels don't have even a basic understanding of the project. "I don't know nothing about that, can you get me some information," asked one clueless hotel general manager, who did not want to be named. He, like Rutzou, was also located near the Port Lucaya hotel. Neither is a members of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, where promotional ideas for the industry are explored and conducted in conjunction with the ministry. It's unclear at this point whether only hotels associated with this board were considered for inclusion into the Club Grand Bahama program. Guardian Business attempts to reach Tourism officials went un-answered up to press time Monday evening. The program currently offers several options for packages. Guest, in fact, are not limited to the offerings of a specific resort but rather you have the opportunity to choose a participating restaurant and activity regardless of where they are located, according to a statement from Discovery Cruise Line. "Club Grand Bahama is available for two to seven-night stays and includes your transportation to Grand Bahama on Discovery as well as your choice of hotels," it read. "[It] depends on the silver, gold or platinum tier chosen." It's a structure that could see all the island's tourist-related entities benefit from the deal, but for now only includes some. As expected, many of the more popular resorts like the Our Lucaya, Pelican Bay and Radisson are included in the nine properties currently part of the package deals. The number may increase, Guardian Business notes, with at least one hotel manager - presently not signed up - confirming he's scheduled to join up. The program's launch comes as Grand Bahama sees a 5.9 percent decline in total visitors to that destination, representing some 2,360 fewer visitors who came to the island compared to the year-ago period.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 |
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