Hotel Bidder Irate

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

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Reader comments:

• This happens to be the saddest article I have read and I have been reading the Cayman News online for quite some time. I travel to Grand Cayman, 3 times a year, after discovering it going on 5 years ago. It has become my second home. On my first trip, I stayed at Treasure Island Resort.
  
  I was greeted at the hotel after exiting the shuttle from the airport by the bellhop who was so congenial and hospitable. He was not only more than happy to accept my bags after a long trip, but to tell me all about your beautiful island. I was told about Stingray City, Royal Palms for dancing, the submarine rides, the visit to Hell along with the Turtle farm, Georgetown shopping and so much more. I went to the front desk and was made to feel like I was at home.
  
  My room was clean, the property was beautifully landscaped, the staff so friendly. The guests were pleasant and I was able to completely relax. I enjoyed my stay in Cayman Islands and never wanted to leave.
  
  I have been able to return time and time again because Treasure Island is a reasonably priced hotel and I have wanted to stay at Treasure Island resort because the price fits my budget, it is centrally located (I do not need to rent a car- an added expense after an expensive flight), it is located on the beach, and the staff has made my visits so comfortable year after year, visit after visit.
  
  I love Cayman Islands. I feel safe in Cayman Islands. (Please read my comment in April under Cayman Still the Safest). I can not afford to stay at an expensive hotel. I work at an extremely stressful, but rewarding job, but the salary is not great. I save every penny so I may vacation in Cayman Islands 3 times a year so I may return refreshed to my job. If Treasure Island is sold to the "Ritz", I will not be able to afford the other hotels.
  
  Please, Minister of Tourism, Treasure Island Hotel is special. It caters to a certain group of people. I am one of them. Please go visit the hotel and speak to the guests. You will find a lot of people in the same income bracket.
  
  I have made many friends through my years of visiting at Treasure Island. We love Cayman Islands and Treasure Islands gives us the opportunity to visit your wonderful island every chance we need to unwind from our jobs and come to Cayman, our "home away from home" - Traveler
  
   
• Keep the resort as a resort. Both Mr. Bush and Dr McField are correct - you should not take that many rooms out of the Cayman inventory of tourist accommodations.
  
  Treasure Island if managed properly and staffed properly can be a very profitable operation.
  
  With the proper experienced management and the co-operation of the line staff, that property can be and has been in the past a benefit to Grand Cayman. Thousands of happy tourists have enjoyed their vacations at Treasure Island Resort and it would be a shame for the large number of Caymanian employees to lose their positions at the resort.
  
  Also, it would not be fair to the owners at Treasure Island Condos to have a employee housing unit at their back door as their huge investment in their property would decrease immediately.
  
  Hopefully the Minister of Tourism can influence all concerned to maintain the property as an attractive resort for the middle income tourist - Anonymous
  
   
• As an investor, condo owner at Treasure Island, an account holder (at this time) at Scotiabank, and supporter of Cayman Islands cultural, financial, and historical interests since 1986, I believe the sale of the Treasure Islands Resort to investors to be converted into apartments and subsidized housing units would be a strong negative influence on the entire lower Seven Mile Beach area. This simply does not impact solely on the immediate property owners of the resort - it will strongly impact on all businesses, property owners, tourism interests, and ultimately island revenues for a great area surrounding the resort.
  
  Scotiabank and Cayman officials - your Island has greater needs than supporting this sale – better usage of the property is possible! - Mark R. James

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