St. George’s Club To Close Effective Today
[Updated] The St. George’s Club will close effective today [Jan 31], with the Club thanking their “very loyal staff for their efforts over the years.”
“After more than 25 years of operation, struggling as a ‘timeshare’ with changing legislation, the closure of the St. Georges golf course, increased costs, recession and members defaulting on their contractual commitments, we have had to make the difficult decision to close the hotel effective 31 January 2020,” said Sally-Ann Kyle, for the operator of The St. George’s Club.
“This means that all our staff, some of whom have been with us for many years will be released from employment as of that date. They have all been informed.
“We will surrender our lease to the Bermuda Government,” she added.
“The news is not all bad as Hotelco Bermuda SGC Ltd., who are part of the group developing the nearby property, to open as a St. Regis Hotel, will take over The St. George’s Club. They will reopen The Club after a period of much needed refurbishment and update.
“We wish to thank all our very loyal staff for their efforts over the years and our remaining members who have been supportive of The Club.”
Update 6.47pm: A statement from the Minister of Tourism and Transport said, “Government is aware that The St George’s Club is in the process of changing ownership. While detailed plans for The Club are still in development, the Government supports all steps taken to enhance this tourist property. It is unique in Bermuda’s inventory in that it is both a timeshare operation and a hotel.
“The public and all St. George’s Club former employees can rest assured that the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, as well as the Ministry responsible for Workforce Development, continue our commitment to keeping Bermudians employed in our tourism industry.
“We look forward to working with the new owners.”
But hey, we have Mary Prince Day.
Thank you Onion Juice and loyal followers.
You are WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!
Think Mark was being sarcastic. Carry on in your ignorant bliss though, your government is a failure and you are too naive to see it. Very soon you will know what it really is like to be a victim.
Yup, another very productive day in the HOA.
Oh yeah that makes everything better doesn’t it. Maybe every time something bad happens we can just rename a holiday and all will be well.
Sad. The wife and I used to enjoy The Margaret Rose Room years ago
This story read like one of the conversations I had with my parents…
When I didn’t want them to know I had a really good time out last night…
you know.. you make them believe that you hate going piano lessons.. so they can force you to go..and allow you some free time..
What I read is that their business concept was failing… And they found somebody to buy them out..
win-win
Win-win? Tell that to all the staff who got let go today with no guarantees of future employment.
There are no guarantees in life! Grow up and get past it! No one is guaranteed a job anywhere!
….Unless you’re a civil servant in Bermuda.
Yes but in the real world they would have changed to concept successfully because a lack or Red tape and the financials made sense
But because tourism is failing and costs too high in Bermuda they just wanted out
Do you for some reason think the Venezuelans will turn this into a hotel that employs actual Bermudians?
They want Achilles Bay is all and golf course
So you keep reading with your rose colored glasses
@Ronda you read correctly
Do you know why the concept was failing?
Yes of course time share concept is dead…but they were mostly operating as a hotel, however, tourism numbers in Bermuda were not enough to keep it a going concern – and costs too high
Perhaps you can answer this – why is tourism failing in Bermuda, two hours from millions of people in USA and Canada?
I had a timeshare there and while it was a nice place they ran it into the ground and annual fees kept going up with additional assessment fees added on. Every person I spoke to who has a lease there wanted out of it and some were stuck for life. Lots of changes created this situation, like the cruise ship dock closing, which affected tourism heavily on that side of the island. A shame really but the overall blame is on the management
I and may others knew it was only a matter of time for this to happen.
It should have been converted to a hotel type property years ago when the writing was on the wall,but people refused to put their reading glasses on.
We should assume Hotelco received exemptions and possible funding from the Government. Nice that investment in tourism properties continues but what do these investors know that travelers don’t know about Bermuda? Investment numbers up, visitor numbers down!
Can you please keep this as a tourism/hotel property and not turn it into staff housing. Staff housing will not benefit St. Georges as there other properties that can do this.
It will be staff housing
Don’t like the fact that staff was not given heads up about this as soon as agreement was reached. Now majority are scrambling for employment and not to mention how the staff felt upon hearing the announcement. Many tears, heartaches and more. Perhaps staff rented apts, making mortgage payments and so on. Hoping they receive great compensation, from longest serving on down with owners getting nothing. I truly feel for the staff and families as well as the restaurant.
The upkeep on Bermuda properties is massive
No amount of raising maintenance fees could
keep up with that
Sadly, this will become staff accom for
Venezuelans while The best the government has
for Bermudians is a new govt dept called economic development
Wow this PLP gomint just messing this island up
Lets see if the sheeple are dumb enough to vote them back in when the polls open back up.
They will get voted back in.
We need another option. The OBA are no longer a real option. There really is no competition for the PLP at this point. Sad really, bc it is shameful what they are doing to our country and the voters who voted for them.
But do people really want to suffer that much!?! Like really – a lot more people had work while OBA was in. Black, white, asians, Europeans, etc.
Both hands were washing the other at all times. When you look around now – everyone is suffering !
sad , but it will not be the last one.
but , Fintech will cover everything
Oh yeah I keep forgetting about that fintec thing. That will be a real shot in the arm for us! Maybe we should rename Good Friday to Good Fintec Day.
This is as a result of greed and incompetence on behalf of management (we all know who they are).
Great staff who worked here now have no jobs and to find out this way.
It has potential, so maybe when the golf course is back up and running, it can reopen.
Thank goodness the oba brought in the st regis people!
It makes perfect sense for the New Hotel to take it over and essentially run the hotel business in St.George… we need to see revival in St. George’s.
But let’s not forget that whilst we have some new investment in Tourism
1: A Brand New Airport
2: New owners at Fairmont Southampton
3: A fairly recently and fabulously refurbished Rosewood Tucker’s Point and Rosedon Hotel
4: The Loren, Azura and Bermudiana Beach Resort
We have seen Morgan’s a Point fail. We are still waiting on movement at Ariel Sands.
But all in all, their are very bright signs ahead for Bermuda Tourism.
What are the headwinds and problems we face?
A failed public education system that only perpetuates the “two Bermuda’s” from one generation to the next.
We have a bloated civil service with much fat (no pun intended) in their ranks.
We have an out of control spiraling healthcare costs.
We have NO Immigration reform and plan to grow the population (we lost 6500) – and most economists say we need 10,000 more people living here or retiring to the island and working in new business in order for Bermuda Inc to be viable.
We hear it in almost mantra-like form about how well Cayman is doing. At one time Cayman copied us, they by-passed us… we better do what they are doing.
Bermuda has so much potential for everyone living here, if only the politicians would open the island up. Having a new Department of Economic Development is only another move in shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic IF we do not relax Immigration and find ways to attract people to live, invest, work and retire here.
Right now the opposite is true, Bermudians and longterm expat residents are leaving in ever greater numbers due to the cost of living and healthcare, and a general sense that Bermuda has lost its way. Once gone so is their cash and contribution to Bermuda.
Many Bermudian university are staying overseas instead of returning to work in Bermuda.
David Burt may not be the greatest or most successful in his business career, but he is a smart guy, and whilst he and the Finance Minister look after International Business, they need to start looking after us. ALL of US.
No offense, but “very bright signs ahead for Bermuda Tourism” sounds like BTA “long-term” spin. There are no “signs” the BTA has a plan for this coming season other than increasing the number of cruise ships which only has an adverse affect on air arrival visitors. BTA continues to support local ventures that don’t do much more than keep their family and social circle friends happy and don’t bring in warm bodies to fill the beds.
Bermudaexit.
1: A Brand New Airport NOT OPEN YET
2: New owners at Fairmont Southampton. CLOSING FOR A YEAR
3: A fairly recently and fabulously refurbished Rosewood Tucker’s Point and Rosedon Hotel WELL THEY ARE NOT HELPING BRING TOURIST ARRIVALS UP
4: The Loren, Azura and Bermudiana Beach Resort SEE ABOVE
We have seen Morgan’s a Point fail. We are still waiting on movement at Ariel Sands.PRECISELY
But all in all, their are very bright signs ahead for Bermuda Tourism.REALLY??? There is nothing bright on the horizon. And if David Burt is so smart why has he not fixed things? I know the PLP agenda and priorities but they are not being carried out by our current leader. It’s time for a new one and for new blood.
And taxes are up 10% problem is this govt.only has public funding …continue on as we are and we will fail