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Sandals denies owing Hotel Accommodation Tax

by Outside Contributor | September 17, 2012
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Sandals Resorts International has been made aware of allegations circulating in certain sections of the St Lucian community which falsely state that Sandals owes outstanding amounts of Hotel Accommodation Tax (HAT) to the Government of St Lucia. These comments are most unfortunate. We do not wish for them to prevail as truth and therefore emphatically deny that any such arrears exist. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the year 2011 Sandals Resorts International paid USD4.1 million in Hotel Accommodation Taxes, which represents 34% of the total HAT collected by the Government of St Lucia. We remain a staunch supporter of the Hotel Accommodation Tax as it goes towards supporting critical infrastructure necessary for the development of the tourism industry and the overall fabric of the St Lucian community. On behalf of the 1,400 employees who work at our three signature Sandals Resorts in St Lucia, I would like to thank the Government and people of St Lucia for their continued support which has been the bedrock of our success during the last 20 years of doing business here. —Jeremy Jones, Regional Director, Sandals Resorts International

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10 Responses to Sandals denies owing Hotel Accommodation Tax

  1. King junior Stewart says:
    September 17, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Hmmmmm they better be nice and don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg in these economic hard times. You turn on your tv in North America IN PRIME TIME EVEN ON CNN and you will see ads been run for people to come to any of the three Sandals in St Lucia. Oh my my my Gee Wiz (The Jeopardy Theme Song Please)I wonder who is spending all that miilions for prime time ads to come to St Lucia ? Bzzzzzz “Oh Rick do you have the answer” ? “Yes Alex I do, would it be the St Lucia Tourism Board” ? Bzzzzz ! You are wrong” “By the way how is life on St Lucia Rick ?” “Oh not too bad Alex”. Ding ding ding King our favorite return champion do you have the answer ? “Oh yes Alex I do” would…

  2. think tank says:
    September 17, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    to give SANDALS some major applauses…Sandals grande at pigeon island area is planning to add 200 more rooms perhaps making it the biggest single hotel in st lucia.. there will be over the water bungalows as well.. its like having our own version of the woooden bungalows that is so familiar in the Maldives , french polynesia and bora bora.. oh its gonna cost a 100 mil usd as well providing 200 local jobs ..thanks sandals this time

  3. TomTom says:
    September 18, 2012 at 5:30 am

    The government, particularly the Inland Revenue Department, should have auditors to carry out surprise audits at these institutions; and don’t just accept what these hotels remit. USD4.1 million seems a rather small amount for the 3 highly successful Sandals on the island.

  4. OMG says:
    September 18, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Is Sandals Grande or any of the other resorts “all inclusive”? If yes, I am concerned, very concerned.

  5. Son of Helen says:
    September 18, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    Sandals is a vampire, preying on saint Lucia!

    Sandals get 1000 times more from Saint Lucia than Saint Lucia get from it. I dare Sandals to pack-up and leave because Saint Lucia is Sandal’s golden goose. People come to saint Lucia not for Sandals but for the Island.

    • Longly says:
      September 20, 2012 at 11:32 am

      Half the people who come to Sandals know nothing about Caribbean much less St. Lucia. Sandals has a huge hold on St. Lucia. Sandals sells Sandals and a beautiful Beach the rest dealing with the island is a bonus. St. Lucia right now needs Sandals more than Sandals needs St. Lucia. If Butch Gets 2 beaches just as beautiful and Laws just as slack as St. Lucia him moving is not a big deal. Sandals put pride in their adds and sell alot but to think people come to St. Lucia because of St. lucia alone is just Crazy. Sandals sell a package that is hard to beat and a lose of Sandals to St. Lucia would cause a chaos that I would not want to imagine. We dont…

      • King junior Stewart says:
        September 21, 2012 at 4:17 pm

        I could not have said it better myself. This business is so fagile, ANY RESORT that close their doors in these economic hard times could be disaster on the economy. Remember it’s not only about Sandals; Tour Guides, Craft Vendors , Taxi Drivers, Departure Tax the list is too long so be careful what you wish for. Look Barbados building a multi million dollar cruise port with Royal Caribbean what will this mean for St Lucia two years from now ? Sandals not even running ads for Jamaica, only St Lucia alone I see.

      • Son of Helen says:
        September 21, 2012 at 7:05 pm

        Sounds like you’re doing PR for Sandals. like I said, I dare the Butch to pack-up and leave.

  6. think tank says:
    September 21, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    i disagree with you ..”LONGLY ” .. the caribbean is etched in the minds of north americans and europeans as a type of paradise utopia… truly ..hotels has nothing to do with the perceptions or impressions of st lucia or any other cbean island..its true various hotels sell our island in photoshop style.. making the skies bluer or the sand whiter..but ppl visit st lucia because its dif from their home countries.. its like a kid in a candy shop…who is not looking for the biggest candy but the shiniest or brightest one.. usually the most colourful ones tend to be small..right..lol

  7. Botox says:
    October 1, 2012 at 9:33 am

    Love Sandals. My only hope is that the area near the entrance to the Pigeon Island park where wooden shacks were erected for local venders, I wish those ugly houses were removed, such an eye sore. Who ever designed this was a tasteless person or maybe just retarded. That spot could have been transformed into a tropical paradise with a few well designed vending huts. St. Lucia could be the perfect destination but most of the decision makers have neg bois taste.

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