I keep hearing from a lot of folks involved with reopening the Martineau Bay as the new W Hotel on Vieques. I was forwarded this article a few days ago:
www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/17/02844/6735/hotels/Try_Out_for_W_Vieques_s_Talent_Show_
I'm really happy to hear that 250 jobs will be created on Vieques with the opening of the new resort. At first I was concerned that the company would import many of it's new hires from its existing properties. That would be a quick way to get such a high dollar resort up and running quickly but would have earned it no popularity with the locals. This resort simply won't survive on Vieques unless it has the total support and good will of the folks that have been born and raised here. So far it seems that the management knows this.
At $675 per night, the W Hotel would be way over my budget if I were a tourist. Vieques has always been one of the Caribbean's most affordable islands but we can also have an upscale resort and not loose any of our charm. The new W Hotel is an example of genuine economic stimulus for an island that could really use it in 2009. I hope they pay attention to the needs of the locals and keep themselves part of the community. If the W Hotel becomes something "separate from the masses" they won't succeed.
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