ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, May 10, 2006 -

A leading hotel in Grenada has been placed on the "off limits" list by the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.

U.S. embassy officials are warning American citizens to stay away from the Grenada Grand Beach Resorts along the Grand Anse Beach in an advisory posted on its website on Tuesday.

"This action has been taken due to recent robberies and assaults which have occurred on the grounds of the hotel, and to the hotel management's failure to take what the embassy would consider effective action to address security deficiencies," said the notice which also made it clear that members of the embassy's staff visiting Grenada will not be staying at the hotel.

According to reports, two American citizens were recently robbed and assaulted within the compound of the hotel. The matter was reported to the police and following investigations a young man was detained and questioned but no arrest or charge was filed because of a lack of evidence.

Executive Director of the Hotel, Daniel Nicholas, said management deeply regrets the incident but has since employed the services of a new private security company to provide a better quality service to the property, which is located less than five minutes drive from the South St George Police Station.

"We now have more patrols around the property as well as improve lighting condition throughout the 20 acres which the hotel occupies," said Nicholas who pointed out that the hotel is eagerly awaiting the return of the inspector from the United States Embassy who scrutinised the entire security operations at the hotel before the advisory was issued.

"We are now awaiting a second inspection from the US Embassy because we have improved our entire security system and other amenities based on his recommendation," said the hotel manager. There are reports that a number of guests to this 240 room hotel have over the years experienced unpleasant confrontations and these incidents were not only told to the hotel's management but also submitted in writing and copied to the Ministry of Tourism, the Board of Tourism, the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association and in some cases to United States congress members.

The Grenada Grand Beach Resort is a member of the Issa Nicholas Group of companies, which also operates the Grand Barbados, Grand Royal Antigua and Crown Plaza Hotel in Trinidad. The American notice comes as Grenada, still in recovery mode after Hurricanes Emily and Ivan, continues to strive hard to rebuild its tourism sector.

The sector has not rebounded to pre-Ivan levels to date and accommodations is already an issue for officials with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell recently telling HBN that cruise ships will have to be brought in to house cricket fans who visit the island for the 2007 World Cup.