Hoteliers seek resolution on Government’s offer

The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) said Tuesday it was seeking clarity from Government over its decision to pay the cost of accommodation for hotel guests in quarantine made to wait beyond 72 hours for COVID-19 test results.

Chairman of the BHTA Geoffrey Roach said both tourists and Barbadian nationals returning home have been seeking answers.

Government’s announcement of assistance for visitors last Saturday has drawn strong criticism from Barbadians.

But during Monday’s COVID-19 update, the head of the newly-formed COVID-19 communications team Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson said Government took the action to maintain the image of Brand Barbados.

According to Roach, he and Chief Executive Officer Senator Rudy Grant were informed of the move just prior to last Saturday’s press conference and talks have been ongoing.

“We, however, are anxious for these talks to be concluded and a resolution reached as it has had a huge impact on our accommodation members, said the BHTA leader. “Many of their guests, who have been impacted by delayed test results, have already sought to have confirmation on the settlement of their room charges. This not only applies to visitors to Barbados but equally to Barbadians who have returned to the island and have to quarantine.

“This crisis has been stressful in many ways and not having the ability to provide guidance to guests on this matter has only added another layer of stress for our members and their teams and so, we hope to have the process settled as quickly as possible.”

Roach added that the delays have also placed a number of the smaller hotels under pressure as their guests who would have booked alternative accommodation, having anticipated to be out of quarantine based on the stated turnaround time for test results, now have to be housed for longer periods.

He stressed that the solution lies in the ability to conduct and communicate test results in the prescribed time.

The Ministry of Health has since unveiled a four-tiered system for fast-tracking some tests results in a bid to clear the backlog.

“ Once this can be achieved, many of these issues will be solved,” Roach said, giving an assurance that the BHTA is willing to lend assistance in any way that it can (BT/PR)