CHRIST CHURCH is getting a pair of Sandals.
What started out as major expansion of its existing hotel at Dover has become the construction of brand new luxury property to be called Sandals Royal Barbados, which is scheduled to open on December 20.
The project is expected to cost US$160 million when completed, a price tag Sandals Resorts International (SRI) said would make it the company’s “largest ever investment in a single property”.
Company officials also said that the construction phase of the new hotel was employing 700 people, a number that was expected to increase to between 1 000 and 1 200 by the end of this month. Also, when Sandals Royal becomes operational, the property will employ 600 individuals, bringing the Sandals workforce here to about 1 2000.
SRI officials, led by founder and chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart (below),
have been marketing the “222 all suite resort” internationally as they try to make sure both hotels are fully booked when the next winter season starts
in December.
“It’s no exaggeration when I say this resort will be the envy of the industry. Sandals has always been the industry leader in creativity and innovation. The luxury-inclusions we develop always add immense value to the destinations where we operate,” Stewart said.
“At the Royal Barbados, guests will experience beach-front infinity edge plunge pools or ‘sky pool’ suites directly facing the Caribbean Sea. Basically, they will be in the water while floating in the sky! We have infinity edge pools and Jacuzzis which are the largest and highest on island. Private circular villa suites within the resort (Rondoval) are a new feature in the offerings in Barbados.”
“Each villa suite has a spacious living room, private patio and pool sanctuary directly accessible from the bedroom. We will have the largest swim up bar on island, not to mention the extensive entertainment within the resort, opulent designs in the public spaces, and world-class menu offerings with a global taste,” he boasted.
Sandals Royal will also feature five specialty restaurants, four bars, and a 15 000 square feet Red Lane Spa. The additional 222 suites will bring Sandals’ Barbados room count to 502.
The new hotel is being built on 14 acres of land that stretches from the
St Lawrence Gap area to a section of Maxwell and is directly next door to the existing property. (SC)
