Elite Island Resorts has stepped in to prevent the Almond Beach Club in Barbados from closure by forging a strategic partnership with the property.
The Almond resort had been due to close in April amid unsuccessful attempts to sell the under-performing hotel chain by owner Neal & Massey Holdings.
Having acquired Almond’s Morgan Bay resort in St Lucia, last year, Elite has agreed a new partnership putting it in charge of running sales, marketing and reservations for the Almond Beach Club.
Colin Peglar, managing director of Resort Marketing which runs sales and marketing for Elite said: “The Almond Beach Club has historically done well in the market, and it is a great new asset to Elite Island Resorts.
“The Beach Club is very important to the island of Barbados, and Elite will be working very diligently to provide revenue and grow sales.”
The hotel, which is adults only and offers 160 guest rooms, will be a new addition to Elite’s strong Caribbean portfolio, which also has a strong presence in Antigua.
Almond’s parent company Neal & Massy Holdings, outlined plans to divest its interests in the under-performing hotel chain in its 2011 annual financial report, in which it said it hoped to complete the disposal of the hotels in the 2012 financial year.
Although not able to comment on any future developments for the Beach Club, Peglar said: “We will be working to improve the hotel and run it better.”
The Almond Beach Club will be offering a range of deals as a result of the Elite agreement and all major tour operators are expected to come out with promotional offers over the next few weeks.