The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association is warning UK operators that if they don’t pay up hotels across the region could close down.
CHTA Chief Frank Comito claimed many tour operators have yet to pay for services provided earlier this year, before the global travel restrictions were implemented.
In a letter, Comito wrote: “We have become alarmed in recent weeks to learn of the extent to which some of your member tour operators are withholding reimbursements to hotels for services which were rendered as early as January and into February and March.
“One hotel is out-of-pocket $15 million.”
Comito claims that hotels are owed an average of $219,000, with several owed more than $1 million.
Tour operators have said reimbursement could take 60-120 days longer than normal, citing staff shortages and their own cashflow problems.
