The 26 June update to Amigoé Online ( http://www.amigoe.com/english/ ) has this item:

"Hyatt in Bonaire

MIAMI/BONAIRE – Bonaire gets a Hyatt Hotel, said Gino Caliendo, general manager of the Hyatt Regency in Miami during his opening speech for the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC) yesterday evening. Minister of Economic Affairs, Burney El Hage (UPB) confirmed that the island has been talking with the group about this.

During his speech, Caliendo went into the developments of the American hotel chain in the Caribbean. The planned build of the Hyatt Hotel at Sta. Barbara in Curacao was also mentioned. This announcement on the development plans for Bonaire was a surprise for the persons from Bonaire and Curacao that were present. Caliendo mentioned that the Hyatt will announce later this year how and where it will build the hotel in Bonaire.

El Hage confirmed that there have been talks about this. There are two options mentioned: the acquisition of an already existing hotel, or the build of a brand new hotel on a private property. El Hage was for that matter very surprised about the announcement in this stage."

I hope this is an untruth....

Can you say The Old Sun-Set?

What's the building code for shore development on the island..I was under the impression that it was 4 stories..Anyone know?

Vince, we all know that if the price is right, 4 stories will become 40 stories over night.

Ouch....my eyes are hurting me after looking at "that", Jerry! Where did this architect's rendering come from?? Ouch!! Carole

Please say it isn't so!!!!Although, they were talking about this 20 years ago when I first went to Bonaire, I thought it would never happen.

Carole, that was from a yahoo search. I went to Cancun many years ago, there code was no building higher then the church. That lasted about a week, then the big bucks moved in. I'm told that the church is now a parking lot for a disco.

All it will take is for some very heavy hitters to come to town, look around, and say, we can make money here, and it's over. Spend a few mil to expand on a hotel, spend another few mil on promotions / advertising, marketing, BRIBES!

How many floors at Chateau Bellafonte now?
Was 4, last feb they started to build another floor / pent house on top, that's 5.




(Message edited by bonaire9 on June 27, 2006)

Bummer.

Please say it isn't so, that is why we no longer go to the Bahamas! There is no reason for the tourist to come to the island, there are no big money resorts or shopping. If you don't dive or wind surf there isn't much appeal, but if one is created you can say bye-bye to alot of divers who come for the love of shore diving freedom and not much else. Don do your magic and keep the park safe!

I don't understand the interest with no real sand beaches to mention and other islands with more attractions....I guess $$ buys a lot of sand! What are those other islands down there no one knows about? Have they ruined Isla Muhares yet?

Jerry.. Bellafonte had 3 floors & now they are adding the penthouses on top. So that would be 4. I also believe that there is a certain meter height limit for building on the coast, but this could change. Bonaire already has 4 story buildings on the coast (Playa Leche), & they are in the process of constructing a 4 story condo on the beach in Belnem (Bellevue)as well as the ongoing construction at Bellafonte...

If this were true that Hyatt will build, may not be all that bad if the government got them to make some major financial concessions, e.g.like building a sewer sanitation system which would help the entire island.. Just a thought. I suspect it would also tend to ameliorate the Airline situation.

Contrary to what everyone believes, there ar NO laws or regulations about the height of buildings on Bonaire. There were many studies, reports, etc. done but none of the suggestions made were ever mandated. I seriously doubt that you will ever see large complex built here until a major airline has daily flights to the island. That being said, all of those of us who are worried it probably wont be any great changes for years...

I like your thinking Michael.

...there ar NO laws or regulations about the height of buildings on Bonaire...
Michael.. Not entirely convinced that statement is now accurate.
In the past this was the case.. From what I understand this issue was the very basis of a lawsuit which was filed by a Dutch property owner approximately 8 months ago naming the Bonairean Gov as a defendant. The suit purportedly alleged that the Government of Bonaire granted permission to a property developer to construct a 4 story condo in Belnem without formalized rules for construction in place.. The suit was subsequently defeated since the government THEN put into place formalized rules & regulations on building along the coast.

Ok this is what I received from our sources in TCB..

Hi Freddie,

Here is the scoop on the Hyatt “announcement.”



Victor Lopez, SR. VP of Development of Hyatt was supposed to give the opening remarks at the CHA conference. However, he was late, so Gino Caliendo, GM of the Hyatt in Miami read his speech for him.



The sentence about Bonaire getting a Hyatt hotel was either mid-read or min-interpreted (we don’t know which) …it was not meant as a definite deal, but more as a reference to how the Hyatt has not lost its spirit for or interest in the Caribbean.



Hyatt is looking into many destinations in the Caribbean that might be a good match for their brand. Nothing is in the works at this moment. They are “kicking tires” all around, but the vast majority of the ideas probably won’t materialize.



Hopes this helps.

TKS, Freddie. Much better than the 'done thing' in the report! We can all stand down now. One reason for posting the original was to smoke out the facts.