A new boutique hotel on the west coast is set to create about 100 jobs, as investors expand their footprint in Barbados’ tourism industry with the opening of the Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club in Paynes Bay.
The west coast property, which began construction 24 months ago, is a transformation of a derelict three-star motel into a 28-room luxury boutique hotel.
Speaking at the opening in Paynes Bay, St James, chairman of the Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club, C.J. Sabga, thanked the management, staff, contractors, consultants, and suppliers who helped bring the project to life.
“From the excellence of your institutions to the warmth of your communities, Barbados continues to set a standard for the Caribbean and beyond. We are especially proud that over 90 per cent of the construction team were Barbadian nationals. And looking ahead, more than 95 per cent of our permanent workforce will be local talent, adding another 100 employees to the over 600 Barbadians already employed by our investor group’s businesses across the island.”
The hotel features the Amara Restaurant, the Blue Bar, Spa Blue Monkey and an oceanfront beach club.
Sabga said the Blue Monkey is among two hotels in Barbados that have joined the Leading Hotels of the World, a New York-based international marketing organisation that represents more than 400 independent luxury hotels in over 80 countries.
“This commitment to excellence is why we are especially proud to join the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World collection, one of only two hotels in Barbados that fly the flag, bringing further international recognition to the shores of Barbados.”
General manager Brian Tatem praised the owners’ vision to create a destination showcasing Barbadian hospitality and their investment in staff training and service excellence.
“They have invested in our team because they understand outstanding service begins with outstanding people. Through training, encouragement, and a commitment to excellence, they have empowered our staff to deliver memorable experiences with warm professionalism and genuine Barbadian hospitality.
“Whether our guests are enjoying an unforgettable stay at the Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club, or dining with family and friends at Amara Restaurant or relaxing with a cocktail at the Blue Bar, our commitment is the same: to provide exceptional service, exceed expectations, and create memories that our guests will cherish long after they leave our shores.”
Shareholder and owner of Amara Restaurant and Blue Bar, Peter George, said Blue Monkey aims to deliver a boutique luxury product in keeping with Barbados’ ambitions as a tourism destination.
“It’s a distinct pleasure and with a real sense of excitement, not just for the commercial opportunity, but for the opportunity to bring something truly special to Barbados. We’ve assembled a great team, put together a great product, albeit boutique. That we think is commensurate with the goals and the huge strides that Barbados has made under this prime minister and her government.”
In her remarks, Prime Minister Mia Mottley described the opening as another example of repurposing existing tourism assets:
“This is the second hotel that I’m opening in the last few weeks, and it is the second hotel that shows what’s possible when we repurpose existing assets and give them new life. Barbados is a mature tourism destination by any measurement in the Caribbean, and as I’ve indicated, we are embarking on really what is the third iteration of our relationship with tourism, what we have come to call Tourism 3.0.”
She said Tourism 3.0 focuses on rebuilding and repurposing both existing tourism assets and the industry itself:
“Tourism 3.0 is not simply as critical as this is about the rebuilding and repurposing of existing assets, but it is also about the rebuilding and the repurposing of the industry and our love affair with this industry.”
The prime minister pointed to the importance of Tourism 3.0 across Barbados:
“It is critical that we get Tourism 3.0 right, and I thank those investors here as well as the others who are coming on board for being part of this new exciting journey, and I say simply to our people, it is up to us what people think of and do when they leave here.
“If we can be the best that we know how we can be, then I have every confidence that the future of tourism and the future of Barbados and the future of the allied sectors that depend on tourism, from manufacturing to agriculture to the retail and distributive sector, will continue to do well for all of us.”
(LG)
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