What is Going On with Sosua Bay/Victorian House Hotels?

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Does anyone have the full story on what is going on at Sosua Bay/Victorian House?

It appears that the Starz company and the builder/developer are involved in a nasty legal hassle over money that is very negatively affecting this beautiful resort property.

As a knowledgeable local said this morning, it appears they are determined to destroy their own nest.
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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No, hotels are open. Sometimes there is a policeman or military at the entrance, some times just regular hotel security. Work seems to be stopped on the casino. Other than that, no current info on the situation.
 

BushBaby

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Jan 1, 2002
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This is MOST strange Ken - normally if comment gets raised on here about the Starz hotels & Sosua Beach, there are clued in people ready to pass their judgements fairly quickly!!! Must be something afoot for there to be so much quiet!!!! ~ Grahame.
 

MommC

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Mar 2, 2002
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If the hotel and service are headed south it will indeed be a shame!

When we were there we were surprised at how un-AI it was and how the quality was better than most AI's in the DR. The Italian influence was very much evident and we've recommended the resort to many people wishing to travel to the North Coast.
I truly hope it's still a "good" recommendation and that the feuding parties get their act together quickly! :eek:
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Lambaba, thanks for the article.

BushBaby, I, too, am surprised that my question floated around for such a long time without any reaction at all, and that we still haven't heard from anyone 'in the know".
 

Gabriela

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Dec 4, 2003
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Need a translation

Lambada said:
Don't know if this tells you anything you didn't already know Ken, it was in penultimate issue of El Faro. And I know you don't need it translated! ;)

http://www.periodicoelfaro.com.do/1073/litishotel.html

Dear Lambada,
I could use a translation. I'm interested in Sosua Beach and the vendors plight. Are they still there? And who is the Garcia family?
Thanks
Gabriela
 
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Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Ken said:
Lambaba, thanks for the article.

BushBaby, I, too, am surprised that my question floated around for such a long time without any reaction at all, and that we still haven't heard from anyone 'in the know".

If you take AZB seriously, it is because all the gringo's on the north coast know nothing about their environment and live in gated communities and socialize only amongst themselves. No wonder no-one knows anything.. ;)
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Chris said:
If you take AZB seriously, it is because all the gringo's on the north coast know nothing about their environment and live in gated communities and socialize only amongst themselves. No wonder no-one knows anything..

Chris, if AZB had all the well-placed, well-connected friends he claims to have, then he would have the information for us sheltered north coasters.
 

Escott

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Jan 14, 2002
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Headline News Straight out of my Gated Community

I heard that there are 3 partners or were 3 partners in Starz/Sosua Bay.

One Partner (Maltese) took another partner (Italian) for the ride of his life and beat him out of 21-23 million dollars leaving him only with a bancrupt service company while the man with the smallest investment ended up with all the marbles. The victim comes in with thugs to start moving things out of Hotel and Army comes in to stop them. Guess the smaller partner had more juice. These people are now in court and work for the most part is stopped.

The operator of the casino had the keys handed to him a few months ago along with a 10k check which was a late fee. THey are inside building the casino supposedly and if the building isn't finished the casino people end up owning the building.

Now I have heard this from different sources and summerized what I have heard. Where is AZB with the real dope when you need to know what real Dominicans are? I heard Ariel Sharon now has controlling interest in Starz and now has his eyes on Santiago!
 

Gabriela

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Dec 4, 2003
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Changes to resort since last year

Thanks for the great scoop, Escott. I haven't been in Sosua for more than a year and am wondering about all these changes to the area around the beach. There's a casino? Is the Voodoo lounge still there? The vendors? I asked Lambada above to translate the paragraph about the beach road, but she must be offline.
Thanks,
Gabriela
 

Lambada

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Mar 4, 2004
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Gabriela said:
Thanks for the great scoop, Escott. I haven't been in Sosua for more than a year and am wondering about all these changes to the area around the beach. There's a casino? Is the Voodoo lounge still there? The vendors? I asked Lambada above to translate the paragraph about the beach road, but she must be offline.
Thanks,
Gabriela
No I'm here...........sorry Gabriela, since Escott had summarised article for you, it didn't occur to me you still needed translation. But of course, you may not have realised he had summarised it! Basically, it is giving historical details about the lawsuits & the example of the journalist taking pics for his article, who was then alleged to be an interested 'party'.
If you need the line by line version, then no, regret I don't have the time (it is 1.35 am!) but there are these internet sites you can click to get a translation..........don't know where, because never used one, but maybe someone will, or you could google.
 

Martha

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Jan 16, 2005
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The real deal

The real story is very simple there are 2 companies Starz Resorts; the operator and mangement company and Sosua Oceanfront C. por A. the property owner.
Both companies were founded by a Maltese who was the promotor of the Sosua Bay Hotel and Victorian House since 1999; in which he was in partnership with Amhsa Hotels and a prominent Dominican Family from Santo Domingo . He is the majority share holder of Starz Resorts which has the operation contract until 2019 of these properties. The 2 Italian partners came in partnership in 2002 when the property was nearly ready to open. They initially started as miniority investors until becoming majority shareholders in the property in 2004.
This is were the problem starts as the Italians with a shady Dominican businessman; the Coca Cola representative in the DR; try to defraud the Maltese out of his 6 million dollar investment in the owning company and cancel the operations contract of Starz Resorts.
When the Italians did not manage to execute there scheme as planned in August 2004, the Maltese partner took them to court and law suits started flying from both sides. Until today there has been more than 15 judgements issued by both the courts in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata all in favour of the Maltese.
This is what is causing the frustration of the Italian partners who started a plan to bribe local goverment oficials, judges and military and started a campaign of discredit against their former partner.
The only good news is that under Starz Resorts the hotels are having a high occupancy and the quality is still one of the best in the DR. It is a shame if the partners continue this war as these hotels have revitalised Sosua since their opening.
The convention center and casino building work seems to be again under way and rumours have it that Starz is still with the intention of remodelling the Park of Sosua.
 

Escott

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Well I guess there are two sides to every story and then you have another which is the truth.

Just to set the record straight, I never read that article nor translated it. My Spanish while I get along in the DR with it is certainly rudimentary so translating something like that is something I would NOT do.

I am not rude enough to put words into the mouth of others either.

My information has come from different people both in the real estate business and the tourist associated business.

I don't know where Martha gets her info from but I would assume she is an employee of STarz or the associated company, but all I hope is that they complete what they started and don't leave that big ugly blight that overlooks all of Sosua which I doubt will happen in the near future.

I am not sure that these projects have revitalized Sosua either but was just a case of tourism picking back up after the downturn of 9-11. Believe it or not most hotels in Sosua are FULL and accomodations today are hard to come by if you don't have reservations. Everywhere you look in Sosua you see construction and new business. Who knows maybe just an up cycle after a long down cycle.

Scott
 
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Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Martha said:
The convention center and casino building work seems to be again under way and rumours have it that Starz is still with the intention of remodelling the Park of Sosua.

Re casino, I understand from the taxi drivers who keep a close eye on what is going on from their nearby stand that work is going on but much, much slower pace than before.

Regarding the park, I sure hope the finishing of the park is more than a rumor. So far all that has been done is to make a very ugly eyesore out of a beautiful piece of property.
 

Martha

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Jan 16, 2005
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Clarification

Dear Scott,

Excuse me but I am not associated with neither Starz resorts nor Sosua oceanfront.

Yes I do have first hand information as I have worked as a paralegal with several Law ofices and have had the opportunity to see documents. I want to be clear that the law firm where I work is not involved in this litigation.

I just answered your rumours as having lived in Sosua for so long I have seen people speaking from their bottom about matters which they did not have any real information about, just hear say.

We have several colourful examples in Sosua, starting with the legal offices of Campagna & assoc.; everyone remenbers the disappearance from Sosua of Niarco Campagna (brother of Evander Campagna), the Sale of Sosua by the Sea by the Lawyer from Cheramico Dr. Ceballo; the Stories of John Bommarito; and how many more?
and amazing enough both the Campagna offices and Dr Ceballo are on the Italians pay roll!!!!!!!!!!!

In the Dominican there is a saying that they only throw stones at the trees that produce fruit. This story is just another example confirming this.
 
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trina

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Jan 3, 2002
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Escott said:
Believe it or not most hotels in Sosua are FULL and accomodations today are hard to come by if you don't have reservations.
Scott

This must explain our attempts to get reservations at Breezes for April 6, and there is no availablity in the hotel until April 20? Does anyone know of any construction going on there perhaps?
 

Chris

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Oct 21, 2002
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Martha said:
In the Dominican there is a saying that they only throw stones at the trees that produce fruit. This story is just another example confirming this.

What an apt and nice saying... and so true!


Trina, do not know of any construction at the Breezes complex. But the towns Sosua and Cabarete are quite full (judging by the hustle and bustle on the streets). So this may be that they are really booked out. Would you like someone to scout things out in other hotels for you?