Hyatt Regency Curacao Reflagged as Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort

Santa Barbara Hospitality, N.V., a hotel investment group, said the former Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is now under new management and will operate under a new name.

The owner terminated its management agreement with Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt Curacao, N.V. on Nov. 21, 2012, and has installed Benchmark Hospitality International to operate resort. The property has been renamed as the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, Curacao.

Santa Barbara Hospitality representatives assumed control of the resort at approximately midnight local time on Nov. 21 in order to avoid any inconvenience to guests or employees. The owner informed Hyatt of its plans, and assumed operational and financial control of the 350-room property.

Employees were notified of the change in management. Benchmark plans to offer employment to most current hotel staff members, who will maintain their current rate of pay, original start date and accrued vacation. All current reservations and event bookings will be honored without change. Guests can call 5999-8401234 from any international location, 855-590-2266 from the U.S., or 8401234 locally about existing or new reservations.

The owner announced that it terminated Hyatt amid allegations that the hotel management company violated the terms of a management agreement, dated March 16, 2005. According to correspondence sent from the owner to Hyatt, dated Dec. 15, 2012, by a letter, dated Nov. 21, 2012, the owner terminated the management agreement and asked Hyatt to contact the owner to immediately discuss interim management and other transition-related matters, to ensure a smooth handover of resort operations. The owner said Hyatt has not complied with owner's request.

The owner claims that under Hyatt's management, the resort missed revenue projections by almost $12 million in 2011, and occupancy rates that year were approximately 22 percent lower than expected. Both revenue and occupancy are also lower than projected in 2012, according to the owner. The owner alleges that Hyatt failed in its duties and responsibilities with regard to the service, training and supervision of the resort's personnel, budgeting and forecasting, and sales and marketing of the resort.

The Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort is a beachfront resort located in the Santa Barbara Plantation area of Curacao. The resort offers three pools, a private spa, tennis courts, two marinas, and an 18-hole Pete Dye championship golf course.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/hyatt-regency-curacao-reflagged-as-santa-barbara-beach-golf-resort.html