Hotelier Robert Jeffrey Kinch is dead

The following statement was posted on the Facebook page of the Dover Beach Hotel.

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved patriarch and founder, Jeff Kinch, on May 14, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Barbados.

Robert Jeffrey Kinch was a pioneer in the Barbados hotel industry, and opened the doors of the Dover Beach Hotel in 1977. Known affectionally as “Jeff”, he served as a young soldier in the British Army in Aden, Canada, Germany, Malaysia and Thailand. He returned to

Barbados in 1969, determined to contribute to the further development of his birthplace.
His effervescent personality and wit endeared him to his staff and guests alike, many of whom have remained loyal to the hotel over the years.

He also served as the President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA.)

Jeff earned several awards during his lifetime. These include the Member of the British Empire (MBE) in Queen Elizabeth’s 2013 New Year’s honours, the BHTA’s prestigious Lifetime Award in 2017, and his induction to the BHTA Hall of Fame in the same year.

Whle we grieve his passing, we are comforted by the knowledge that his was a life well lived. He was a giant of a man. May he Rest in Peace. (PR)