According to Adrian Loveridge, chairman of the Small Hotels Committee of the board of the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), small hotels in the Caribbean are under threat to sell out as a result of the economic pinch.

“If smaller properties are struggling financially, they could be easy targets [for those making offers to purchase the property],” he said, adding the small hoteliers will be tempted to take the “soft option”.

Smaller hotels, (those with fewer than 75 rooms) have been being sold and bought up, with over 27 deals taking place over the past 15 years. With the new economic pinch, these smaller hotels may find the option of selling out the best way to go.

Smaller hotels cannot afford the marketing of larger chains and do not have the tour operated force behind their operations. In an effort to save the small carribean hotels, Mr Loveridge has begun an innitiative for collective advertising to promote the summer season. The summer season tends to hit small hotels harder, with occupancy between 20-25%.

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