New hotel investment 'needed in Jersey'
BBCA new hotel planned for Jersey is "needed" after plans were shown to the public for a new site, a industry expert says.
A public consultation was held on Tuesday about the 170-180 bedroom hotel, conference centre, health spa and swimming pool.
If approved, it would be built at Strive Health Club in St Peter, but facilities will be retained and enhanced.
Tim Crowley, from Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said "it's really positive" and "we need to see is investment in new hotels".
Mr Crowley, the chamber's chairman of the Visitor Economy Committee, said: "I saw a list recently, actually, of the amount of hotels that had closed and it shocked me.
He said new product was needed in a market that was "old and needs replacing and replenishing.
He also said "we need to see some positive change" and "we absolutely hope the island and the government in particular [and] Planning gets behind this".
Official figures show the number of hotels in the island fell from 55 in 2022 to 47 in 2024.
Stephen de Gruchy visited the public consultation and was impressed with the plans as well.
He said "island needs more hotels" and the plans at Strive "seems to be very well thought through".
Mr de Gruchy added: "We need more hotel beds, but it's something with a different slant because it will appeal to the sports clubs as well as perhaps normal visitors as well."
Nick Campbell's family travels from Glasgow to visit him in Jersey.
He said: "I'm really keen on keeping the connectivity with the mainland... that's going to help me getting back and forth to see my family".
"It's also hard enough to get accommodation on the island, as everybody knows, so having those extra beds would hopefully mean that the demand."
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