Government has announced plans to terminate the lease held by Rex Resorts for the Halcyon Cove Hotel, to make way for a new project within the next two months.
Minister of Tourism Asot Michael confirmed that, within 60 days, government will end the lease held by the Rex Resorts and will sell the Dickenson Bay property to Sandals Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart.
“Negotiations have reached an advanced stage with Mr Stewart and we hope to close an agreement within the next 60 days or so,” he said.
Minister Michael also acknowledged that government will have to compensate Rex Resorts for the time lost on the lease.
The present resort, he added will most likely be demolished under the new deal with the Sandals and Beaches mogul.
“Butch Stewart is very interested in knocking down the entire hotel,” Michael said. “He’s proposing to build a 250-room Sandals hotel there with additional spas and amenities and restaurants similar to the Sandals Grande Resort down at Dickenson Bay.”
The tourism minister said that resort will be built in addition to the Beaches Resort which Stewart plans to construct at Long Bay, starting in 2016.
“He wants to do this immediately and then he wants to start the Beaches project, which will be 400 rooms.”
