VENEZUELA – The Venezuelan government has nationalised Margarita Island’s Hilton Suites and its assets in a move it said to rescue the country’s tourism.
The ‘forced acquisition’ was made by presidential decree, which said the hotel is “indispensable for increasing social and mass tourism” and the nationalization of the hotel will help “promote socio-economic development”.
The Hilton Suites consists of 490 rooms and suites, meetings facilities and the island’s largest casino. Minister for Tourism, Pedro Morejon, said the hotel would continue operating as normal and all its workers would continue in their positions, with the same labor agreement. He also announced the creation of a tourism training center in the hotel.
Hilton Worldwide has since said it is evaluating how the measure would affect its interests. The hotel “is still a member of the Hilton system and welcomes its clients with the same level of service that they have always enjoyed”.
The hotel was formerly owned by Inversiones Pueblamar and Desarrollos MBK. The Ministry of Tourism’s Venezuelan Tourism body currently owns and runs eight hotels across the country.
