Friday, June 16, 2006

AS Brazil go in search of another World Cup title, one of their star players may not be returning to the same luxury in Cayman Islands if his team lifts soccer's prestigious title.

Following Brazil's triumph over in Germany in the championship match in Japan in 2002, the world-class striker Ronaldo chose to celebrate and recuperate on the Seven Mile Beach.

Together with his wife, Milene, the leading goal scorer in the competition made the Hyatt Regency their home for four days to the joy of the Island's residents.

Four years later, the footballer and his fellow Brazilians are yet again favourites to win another World Cup title despite challenges from 31 other teams in Germany.

But the same cannot be said for the Hyatt Regency, which has failed to fully recover from the ravages of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. 

If Ronaldo or any of the international stars that vacationed at the luxury resort were to return they would have much less room options because a large percent is still unavailable.

Over 200 rooms remain closed in its northern section, while 53 suites on the beach are in operation in the resort, which was the Island's flagship tourist accommodation. 

On 15 December 2004 - three months after Hurricane Ivan - the resort resumed business on a scaled-down version and has apparently not recovered from the severe flooding to its larger section. 

Sources close to the Hyatt Regency told Cayman Net News said that insurance payment has been held up, leaving it to limp along while another luxury resort, the Ritz-Carlton, entered the market.

Most resorts and hotels on Grand Cayman have recovered in full or partly, while some have also expanded their capacity.   

The company's management and owners have been mum on the situation with Government only promising to look into the fate of what was once its leading resort.

With stay-over visitor numbers climbing, the need for additional room stock is ever increasing and the questions about the future of the Hyatt Regency continue to pile up.

In April Net News reported that a disaster recovery company sued the resort for US$2.6 million for mopping-up operations after Hurricane Ivan.

Owners of Hyatt Regency said as far as they are concerned the matter was resolved but they defend the Commercial Drying Technologies claim, which to them had no merit.

Back on the World Cup stage, Brazilian striker Ronaldo's performance was described as "slow" and "lumbering" in his side's 1-0 win over Croatia earlier this week.

His critics said that he appeared to be in a nightmarish world of his own but can the same be said of the Hyatt Regency on the world famous Seven Mile Beach where he savoured the 2002 success? 

"The Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Beach Suites is the Island's finest Caribbean beach resort," boasted the website of the Hyatt Regency.

"Experience the sparkling white sands of Seven Mile Beach and all that our Grand Cayman resort has to offer including the Britannia golf course, the deluxe European spa and Hemingways restaurant for culinary delights."

Will Brazil win the ongoing 2006 World Cup and will Ronaldo holiday at the Hyatt Regency in Grand Cayman again?

Or better yet will the resort regain its glory days?

paul@caymannetnews.com

Back...