THE VALLEY, ANGUILLA: Government of Anguilla met with representatives of the Viceroy Hotel Group and the proposed new owners, the Carlton Group.
In the aftermath of several meetings between Mr. Roy Shanholtz of Starwood Capital , owners of the Barnes Bay located Hotel, Government today met with Mr. David Tessier, Managing Director of The Carlton Group, Mr. Bill Walshe, CEO of The Viceroy Hotel Group, Mr. Sagar Desai, VP, Acquisitions and Development, Viceroy Hotel Group, Mr. Richard Alexander, General Manager, Viceroy Anguilla, Ms. Dorla Hodge, Director of Human Resources, Viceroy Anguilla and Mr. Seymour Hodge, Liaison Officer.
Attending the meeting on behalf of government were the Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Hubert Hughes, Minister of Infrastructure and Utilities, Hon. Evan Gumbs and Parliamentary Secretary Tourism and Sports, Hon. Haydn Hughes. The meeting came in the aftermath of discussions with the present owners where there have been much discussion including those in the public domain due to employee matters at the establishment. The Chief Minister requested a meeting of all aspirants for higher office after meetings with Mr. Shanholtz where it was stated that staff numbers would be cut significantly. Unfortunately, only Ms. Pam Webster, independent candidate for District 1 and the AUM candidates appeared in that meeting. The Hughes led government insisted that the staff compliment must be retained.
After high level discussions on the employment situation between the proposed purchasers, the Carlton Group and the government of Anguilla, a Press release was issued that will ensure that the employees of the establishment will now be rehired. “We were always concerned about the employment situation at the hotel and we could not in good conscience give consent to this sale without those jobs being secured. Anyone can built a great property but the true success is the service rendered by the 500 plus colleagues at that property”, the Chief Minister stated.
As a follow up to the meeting, the visiting group were interviewed live on national radio and followed up with a town hall styled meeting for the colleagues of the Viceroy Hotel.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
