Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Hilton Hotels to Build Resort and Spa on Bonaire

The headquarters of Hilton Hotels today announced that they will build a new resort in the channel area north of the airport on Bonaire.

Construction is planned to begin in the summer of 2008 for the new Hilton Bonaire Resort & Spa, and, if all goes as planned, the new resort will open in July of 2010.  The hotel will have 144 rooms, including 12 suites.  The project will cost more than 100 million guilders (USD $56,000,000).  Azul Management Bonaire, which includes a number of Aruban investors, is going to develop the resort and will also be the owner.  One of the initiators is Anthony Blok, the then employee of former Aruban tourism-minister, Robertico Croes.

Bonaire’s Ramoncito Booi had this reaction:  “We are happy to welcome Hilton.  This is an important step in the further development of the tourism.  They guarantee an important number of notorious names for the island.  Their motto “be hospitable” completely fits the Bonairean attitude regarding tourism.”