Edmund Bartlett (centre) is photographed with Grupo Piñero CEO, Encarna Piñero (left) and Lydia Piñero

Secretary of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre) is photographed with Grupo Piñero CEO, Encarna Piñero (left) and Lydia Piñero, owner of Grupo Pinero, which owns Bahia Principe Runaway

[KINGSTON, Jamaica] – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, spoke today in Madrid, Spain, at the official launch of a strategic alliance between international tourism giant Grupo Piñero, which is owned by Grupo Piñero Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, the private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, IDB Invest and Banco Popular Dominicano to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth through tourism in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The agreement will result in a US$200 million investment in Grupo Pinero’s Bahia resorts in both countries.

The agreement was possible because the three institutions share the belief that tourism can contribute to the growth of the local economy while promoting inclusive and sustainable tourism.

“Tourism is the world’s fastest and most immediately viable economic activity. That is why this particular action is so vital to the development of the Caribbean and the world today. Here a statement is made about how we will manage the debt restructuring and cash injection to enable faster recovery. This rapid recovery must not be irresponsible and that is why the elements that address sustainability and resilience are so important,” Bartlett said.

financing

The funding will support Grupo Piñero to accelerate the reopening and operations of our hotels and provide a boost during this period of post-pandemic recovery and growth. Likewise, a sustainable revival of tourism, which in turn allows for a balance in the economic, social and environmental spheres.

Bartlett commended the partners, noting that the alliance formed will have positive returns for the people of Jamaica. He informed that public-private cooperation of this kind is very important to increase the competitiveness of the sector and to put tourism at the service of recreation as efficiently as possible.

Diego Bermejo, Romero De Terre, Donovan White, and Delano Seiveright

LR: Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Diego Bermejo Romero De Terre, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, Donovan White, and Senior Advisor and Communications Strategist at the Ministry of Tourism of Jamaica, Delano Seiveright

Tourism remains strong

“Congratulations to all the teams participating in this program today. Tourism recovery will be based on strong business responses – public-private partnerships that enable sustainability,” the minister said.

Among those present were the President of the Dominican Republic, Hon. Luis Abinader, Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Hon. David Collado; Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Piñero, owner of Bahia Principe Hotels, Encarna Piñero and Senior Advisor and Strategist at the Jamaica Department of Tourism, Delano Seiveright.

Grupo Piñero is a Spanish tourism group founded in 1977 by Pablo Piñero. She has 27 hotels worldwide, including Bahia Principe Grand, the largest hotel in Jamaica.

Bartlett leads a small team in Spain. They will attend the highly anticipated annual International Travel and Tourism Fair, CHARACTERISTIC, in from 19 to 23 January 2022.

During his visit to Madrid, the Minister will meet potential investors and key industry stakeholders. These include Robert Cabrera, owner of Princess Resort, on a 2000 room development currently underway in Hanover; Diego Fuentes, Chairman and CEO of Tourism Optimizer Platform; Representatives from RIU Hotels & Resorts regarding a 700 room hotel in Trelawny and other investors to discuss major projects in the pipeline.

He will also have several media appearances and meet with Spanish tour operators. He left the island on Saturday January 15th and will return on Saturday January 23rd.