THE VALLEY, Anguilla, July 29 ————-Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism Hubert Hughes has pledged his government support to local hotelier and businessman Quincy Gumbs Sr and his Royale Caribbean Resort.
Speaking at a reception on Wednesday night to witness the signing of an agreement with global hotel chain ‘Choice Hotels’, Hughes said that government will invest in a paved road leading to the resort.
He commended Gumbs and his family for their vision and foresight in constructing the Royale Caribbean resort.
Also praising the work of the Gumbs’ family was Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Tourism in the administration of his father and government leader Hubert Hughes.
Present at the small gathering were Social Development Minister Edison Baird and Communications and Works Minister Evan Gumbs.
Two senior officials from the Choice Hotels chain – Jose Salvadore Icoza and Brian Parker were on the island to sign the agreement.
Gumbs said Royal Caribbean will benefit from the immense marketing resources and consultancy services offered by Choice Hotels but will retain overall management control.
“This is very important to us because Royale Caribbean will emerge not only as a leader in the hospitality industry in Anguilla but as emerging brand in the Eastern Caribbean,” Gumbs told government leaders, members of the media and invited guests.
He said with the agreement Royale Caribbean joins Choice Hotels ASSEND COLLECTION which is their equivalent of a five star brand. Gumbs said the international hotel chain has agreed to waive Royale Caribbean’s admission fees for six months, staggered their rates for four years and have committed US$120,000.00 to the opening of the local hotel.
Gumbs said phase one of the hotel development project is 85 percent completed and that he was looking at a formal opening early in 2011.
He noted that the agreement was 20 years, renewable every five years. Gumbs said Choice Hotels will market Royale Caribbean, provide consultancies and training.
” This is going to be a five star hotel with four star prices, ” Icoza said. He indicated that Choice Hotels have US$2 billion in revenue and manages nine hotels in the Caribbean including facilities in Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands.
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