It was the first luxury hotel on the island and was owned by American Motor Inns, owners of more than 50 Holiday Inns. Pourzal was named managing director of the new facility in March of that year. But business was to fall off shortly after the opening for a variety of reasons including widespread publicity of criminal incidents, a decline in the economy on the mainland and runaway inflation. I know we'll survive this one, too. The Reef has adopted a plan that Pourzal calls his family concept.
All managers eat in the employee's cafeteria and there is no executive dining room.
The goal is to keep employee morale at a high level and instill a sense of job security in each employee. And Pourzal intends to continue that feeling with his employees. At the time of this interview, Pourzal said the figures for renovations were not yet firm, but he was sure the cost would be equal to or exceed that of a new hotel. We'll do it again. It took two major hurricanes to bring the Reef to her knees this time, but when the renovations are finished, Pourzal promises Frenchman's Reef will be a brand new hotel in every aspect.