Over Budget

Wyndham Grand Resort project to open in October at higher cost

By Jenique Belgrave

With a higher than anticipated price tag of US$229 million (BDS$458 million), the Sam Lord’s Castle – A Wyndham Grand Resort is set to have its soft opening in October.

Admitting the project was US$22.5 million (BDS$45 million) over budget, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said this was largely due to the interruption caused by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The contractors would have made a force majeure claim under the contract in excess of US$40 million (BDS$80 million), and we managed to get them down, after extensive negotiations, to US$22.5 million (BDS$45 million). And of course, we’ve lost two and a half years with COVID,” she said.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon after a tour of the expansive five-diamond resort, she revealed that the Government had additional plans for the development of the property, in particular the burnt-out ruins of the historic mansion that had been one of the island’s early luxury hotels.

“The Government has plans for the castle restoration and the grounds. That’s not part of this hotel, because we took two decisions that changed from what we inherited. One, we didn’t believe that we should leave all 55 acres for one hotel. Therefore, we split it in such a way that there are 17 acres to the southeast of the castle that are now available for development, separate from the 422 rooms here. And we also felt that, ultimately, once we are in a position to catch our hand – right now the castle will be landscaped and lit –, we would like to work towards the restoration of the castle. But that is not in the immediate plans because we need to make sure that the country is firing on full cylinders with respect to our ability to expand the room count,” Mottley said.

The Prime Minister said the Government had not been happy with the expressions of interest made by parties regarding the development of the additional grounds, and noted that prospective individuals or entities would again be invited to submit a proposal on the project which has gone out to tender twice.

Currently, the expansive hotel has a staff complement of 300, which is expected to reach 1 000 when the 422-room St Philip property is completed.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill said the additional rooms would augur well for attracting more airlift to the island.

“Certainly, another 422 rooms on the island would allow us, when we meet with our airline partners, to demonstrate Barbados’ capacity for increased airlift…. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to have additional inventory on the island and to drive airlift to Barbados, in addition to creating all the many exciting opportunities for employment and future economic development in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for coordinating infrastructural projects Dr William Duguid highlighted that the new hotel plant will open up the island’s capacity to host large meetings.

“To have a conference facility that can take 1 100 people, it gives us and opens up a part of our tourism product that has been lacking for a long time because many people want to have a conference facility that has the hotel right next door,” he said.

“So what this will add to our opportunities is to bring what they call the MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions] market, and to get that so that we can actually go after that type of business. And I think that is a significant part and cog in our tourism market that was lacking, and that’s what this hotel will offer for the people of Barbados.”

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb