Minors Offers Support for Tucker’s Point SDO
Yesterday morning [Feb 4] in the House of Assembly, Government tabled the Special Development Order 2011, and later that afternoon a press conference was held at the Tucker’s Point Resort, during which Minister Patrice Minors offered her support for the Special Development Order [SDO], which would allow Tucker’s Point to build additional residences and expand its hotel.
Minister of Business Development & Tourism Patrice Minors spoke at the press conference expressing her Ministry’s support for the SDO, which would allow for an expansion of the hotel.
Minister Minors said: “There has been considerable discussion coming from certain sectors of the community about the current state of tourism in Bermuda. This Government is listening, and is very cognizant of the delicate balance a society must have to maintain quality environmentally enriched open spaces and sustainable economic viability.”
“However it must be understood that in order to compete and cope in this current climate Governments and tourism authorities around the world have had to readjust the way that they position their tourism product. Competition has become ever more sophisticated and focused, as travel destinations vie with one another for limited tourism dollars to attract and maintain a traveller who is now even more discerning on where they choose to spend their leisure time.”
Environment Minister Walter Roban also spoke at the press conference, saying: “SDO’s are regarded, by their critics, as a way to circumvent the normal planning process, but they are, in fact, an important tool for the Minister to respond to strategic, national issues and to the development needs of the day.”
Earlier that day Tucker’s Point released a statement which said said “the SDO carries with it strict environmental and planning requirements, including detailed environmental studies of woodland and geophysical conditions. As part of the SDO agreement, Tucker’s Point will deed 7.5 acres of land zoned as Woodland and Nature Reserve, as well as Mangrove Lake, to Government or a designated land preservation entity.”
Minister Minor’s full remarks follow below:
Ladies and gentlemen, earlier this morning in the House of Assembly, you’ll be aware that Government tabled the Special Development Order 2011.
You would have heard Minister Roban explain in the House the rationale and reasons for tabling the Order. On behalf of the Ministry of Business Development and Tourism, I am very pleased to offer my support for the Order which makes provision for an expansion of the hotel.
You would also have heard me expand on Government’s commitment to investing in hotel development, and we look forward to working with Tucker’s Point Club during the planning and development stages of the project and on finalizing development details.
Simply put ladies and gentlemen, our hotel product is of national importance.
Its success is vital to every facet of our community.
Its success is vital to our residents who work in the tourism industry.
And its success is important to the stakeholders who offer services in the industry, such as our restaurateurs, sports and leisure operators, taxi drivers, retail stores… the list is endless.
Ladies and gentlemen, Tucker’s Point is a shining example of the new hope for the development of Bermuda’s hotel product.
The acclaimed Tucker’s Point Hotel and Spa, is the first luxury hotel to be built in Bermuda in more than 35 years.
It has been a vital addition to Bermuda’s tourism economy and has raised the bar for hospitality facilities and services in Bermuda.
Rosewood Hotel and Resorts, has an international reputation for the highest standards of quality and luxury, and their support and management of Tucker’s Point will ensure its continued operation at a high, impeccable standard.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the COO of Rosewood, Mr. Robert Boulogne. Many thanks to you Mr. Boulogne for your dedication, support and commitment not only to Tucker’s Point, but to Bermuda as well.
Finally ladies and gentlemen, there has been considerable discussion coming from certain sectors of the community about the current state of tourism in Bermuda.
This Government is listening, and is very cognizant of the delicate balance a society must have to maintain quality environmentally enriched open spaces and sustainable economic viability.
However it must be understood that in order to compete and cope in this current climate Governments and tourism authorities around the world have had to readjust the way that they position their tourism product.
Competition has become ever more sophisticated and focused, as travel destinations vie with one another for limited tourism dollars to attract and maintain a traveller who is now even more discerning on where they choose to spend their leisure time.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are working in close partnership with all our hoteliers to ensure that they understood that this Government fully supports their efforts to bolster Bermuda’s tourism product.
You will recall that last month, I travelled to Jamaica with our hoteliers to participate in the CTO Ministers meetings, as well as the Caribbean Hotel Association’s Caribbean Marketplace 2011.
Represented hotels in Jamaica included the Fairmont Group, Elbow Beach, the Reefs, Cambridge Beaches, Tucker’s Point, Grotto Bay and Coco Reef. It was an enlightening opportunity for me on several levels.
But what I was most heartened by was bearing witness to the passion expressed by our hoteliers to increase the number of visitors in a collaborative matter, as well as their commitment to revitalizing our bedrock of Bermuda’s success – tourism.
So how can we not embrace and support their efforts? It’s our collective responsibility… as a people… as a Government… and as a Country.
Thank you.
I think most people get that we need more quality hotel rooms, but I for one have had my share of the deception. What we have allowed over the past decade is for this government to spin residential-real estate development as hotel product. We have listened to the nonsense that it will generate tourism related jobs. The sad truth is that most of these hybrids have been created primarily as real estate sales opportunities posing as something else. The spin wasn’t acceptable in more sound economic times. It’s nothing short of criminal today!
Took the words right out of my mouth!! They still have empty rooms!
Absoultely…The real winners are the owners, real estate agents and possibly some insiders receiving brown bags in the dark…
TPC’s average occupancy percentages are quite low (in the teens and even lower at times I hear) and the service quality is absolutely abysmal. This whole SDO smokescreen/shell game may be nothing more than a last ditch effort to sell more land to non-Bermudians (fortunately not nearly at the same scale and scope as the PLP Government approved for the Club Med, i.e. tax payer property!!) to raise cash to cover their debt obligations to HSBC.
The PLP’s definition of progress …
Letting select people take our few remaining acres of green space and covering them in concrete with structures that will never show a profit and saying ‘Look what we did !’
Some parts of Bermuda have always been for sale to outsiders. Parishes were carved up by aristocrats, during WW2 UK/US land exchange for warships, airplanes, and weapons, now we have SDOs…. It is what it is. What I hate is that I’m stuck with real estate that locals won’t buy and I can’t sell it to anyone but a Bermudian because I’m not ‘connected’. That sucks…..it is what it is
Mrs Minors ..Rosewood = Rafael= Mandarin = can’t make a profit in Bda!!!!
Save the 5 star names for those that don’t know…