PORT OF Spain, Trinidad, CMC—Finance Minister Colm Imbert Monday said he would investigate the Hyatt Regency hotel’s decision to no longer accept the Trinidad and Tobago currency (One TT dollar = 0.16 cents) and prefer currencies from the United States and Europe.
In a statement posted on Facebook and other social media platforms over the weekend, the state-owned hotel said the measure would take effect on November 1 this year.
“Effective November 1, 2024, all transactions at Hyatt Regency Trinidad will be mainly cash-free for a faster, smoother, and more secure experience. We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and only US dollars, British pound sterling, and Eurodollars.”
However, in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Imbert said that Hyatt recently announced a” contentious decision to stop accepting TTD cash while accepting USD and GBP cash, which it quickly rescinded.
“As a sole corporation, the MOF ( Ministry of Finance) has no oversight role over the operations of Hyatt but will investigate the currency aspect of the matter,” Imbert said.
The hotel has since apologized for the statement regarding cashless payment options, saying it was prematurely distributed and contained inaccurate information.
The hotel’s general manager, Michael Hooper, said that “at this time,” Hyatt Regency Trinidad will not change its payment process.
“A message regarding cashless payment options at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel was prematurely distributed with inaccurate information. At this time, we will not be implementing any changes to our payment process. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused,” Hooper said.
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