IF MARKETED PROPERLY inland tourism could be successful.
This is the view of hotelier Adrian Loveridge as he spoke to the Daily Nation against the question of viability of the Barbados’ tourist product and the role of the small hotel in the industry.
“I think we have a project that is marketable. We should be looking for the niche markets. We can’t be the cheapest, but let’s be the best at what we do.”
He said St Lucia seemed to be doing better in that market because they had constructed a number of small properties that provided intimacy and high level of service.
Loveridge said Barbados had “six or seven [small] properties that are playing catch-up” and yet were of some of the highest rated properties on the island.
The hotelier’s comment also comes on the heels of news that the property called Naniki in St Joseph was up for sale.Tom Hinds, proprietor of Naniki, did not want to comment on the sale at this time.
Loveridge, co-owner of the Peach & Quiet Hotel, said the concept was always to take tourism away from the coast.
“There have been several attempts with inland properties, the most spectacular failure was Villa Nova. Villa Nova could easily work, but if you give them [the visitors] something special: high level of service and high quality of product, they don’t necessarily want to have to put their feet on the sand. They would be quite happy to be bussed down to the beach,” Loveridge said.
He singled out the Sugar Cane Club as one inland property that was transformed with raved reviews.
“You can’t just stick something up and expect it to sell, and you can’t rely on any Government agency [like the] Barbados Tourism Association to market it for you. You have to get out there and hustle and bustle,” Loveridge said.(JS)
