Bright prospects for tourism
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from November 1989.
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On Cayman Brac, the Brac Reef says "it looks like a great season" but Tiara Beach feels, despite a good November, "it's still too early to tell what the season will be like".
Two major Grand Cayman hotels report almost full occupancy this past weekend though some of that is attributed to DOT travel agent promotions and to Scuba Bowl.
Mr. Reimund Kienast of Holiday Inn said: "In general, the season looks good; probably the same as last year or a little better. In particular, the month of November is going to be good."
This summation was echoed by most operations.
Mr. Malcolm Jennings, manager of the Hyatt, reported that if present trends hold, "business will be much, much better than last year".
"There are a number of reasons for this," said Mr. Jennings. "The increased airline service helps tremendously; wholesalers and travel agents have more choices to offer. Also, the damage from (hurricane) Hugo, particularly to St. Croix and St. Thomas, is a factor; some of those bookings came this way. The Department of Tourism are doing a better job (of promotion) as is Cayman Airways."
Mr. Jennings said that if business continues on the trend of the past two months it will be a stronger season than last year.
The Hyatt manager also suggested that the new airlines flying here should be developing new markets rather than all competing on the same routes.
"They need to develop new markets, as American Airlines seems to be doing," said Mr.Jennings.
At press time, no information on bookings could be obtained from the Ramada Treasure Island or Grand Pavilion hotels.
Cindy Raymond, assistant manager of a condominium management agency, said prospects for the season were good. She reported that an American Express promotion "Free Caribbean Night", where passengers booking three nights get one night free, had produced strong bookings.
"Several of our properties have been running full and we've had to move people to other properties in our rental pool," she said.
Most condominiums reported prospects for the season appeared bright.
At Harbour Heights, only 2 of their 46 units were vacant on Friday and the season in general appeared to be as good or better than last year.
Lacovia also predicted "doing better than last year" and confirmed that while there were many promotional bookings currently in the island most of their 55 units were taken by full-paying guests.
Plantation Village reported full occupancy over the past weekend. "November looks pretty good compared to September and October and we're seeing a very good high season to April. Easter being late this year will also help," said a spokesperson.
The Retreat at Rum Point, open one year after being closed due to damages from Hurricane Gilbert, reports a "sold out" season.
"We were discouraged after being out of commission for a year but it looks Cont'd. on page 2 from page 1
very positive now. We've had a lot more enquiries. The last few days the phone has been ringing off the hook with a lot of last-minute enquiries for Christmas and February," said a Retreat official.
Donna Ingle, manager of the Brac Reef, said indications were that the season would be excellent and attributed it mainly to improved jet service from Cayman Airways.
"We're completely full on weekends, both hotels here are, and we've got people farmed out all over the island," she said.
Some are at the new Seafarer Condominium with six occupied units and three more being readied; some will go to the new Airport Inn opening 15 December at Tibbetts Plaza. Others are being accommodated at Buccaneer's Inn, which rents rooms by the night, and in private residences.
Mr. Emilio Palazuelos, manager of Tiara Beach, said the hotel was full now but the season was "looking soft". "November looks like about 85 percent (occupancy) which will put us about 5-10 percent ahead of last year but as far as what the season will be like, it's too early to tell," he said.
He said improved business in Grand Cayman was due to the increased number of airlines flying there.
Statistics released by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in Barbados for the period ending May 1989 showed a 2 percent increase in tourist arrivals to the Caribbean compared to the same period in 1988.
The number of tourist arrivals was up for most destinations but Cayman declined 12.5 percent, Jamaica 12.0 percent, and Bermuda 4.6 percent.
In percentage terms, significant increases over 1988 (more than 10 percent) were reported by Curacao, Aruba, Anguilla, St. Vincent and Bonaire. Barbados, Grenada, Antigua, St. Maarten and Montserrrat were up by 5 percent. The CTO report says that Bermuda and the Cayman Islands were hard hit by the Eastern strike and the consequentreduction in seats. "Both destinations now appear to be recovering," said the CTO, pointing out that in Cayman Northwest has increased flights while American and PanAm have initiated daily flights from Miami.
