Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Anguilla was the venue for the just-held Annual General Meeting of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association.
The Association’s long-serving and re-elected President, Mr. Delroy Lake, took the opportunity to welcome the world-renowned hotel chain to Anguilla as well as other new and coming properties on the island.
“We are excited about the rebranding of the former Viceroy Resort and Residences with a very strong brand – Four Seasons Resort and Residences,” Mr. Lake said in delivering the President’s Message on Friday, November 18.
“This new brand can only mean positive things for this island as Four Seasons Resort and Residences is a very strong 5-star brand with 100 hotels worldwide prior to October 20, 2016. Four Seasons and Residences Anguilla became the hundred and first property in the Four Seasons Brands.”
He continued: “It is worth noting that that Four Seasons has consistently been ranked in the top 100 companies (not hotels but companies) worldwide. They have a strong service culture and come with a database of customers, most of whom have never visited Anguilla.”
Earlier, Mr. Lake said: “The AHTA takes this opportunity to welcome Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa which opened its doors in February 2016, and The Reef by CuisinArt which opened on November 2, 2016. We would like to wish Manoah Boutique Hotel and Quintessence Boutique Hotel much success as they work hard to open their doors to the public within the next month. It has been 8 years since we have had a new hotel or resort open on Anguilla and it is great news for the island. This will assist in creating new job opportunities and, hopefully, increase visitors to the island and in turn jumpstart a sluggish Anguillian economy.”
Mr. Lake added: “We welcome all of these players to the game and recognise that new properties may pose a challenge to many of the existing properties. This is an opportunity to up your game, renovate your property, employ some of the new cutting edge technology, invest in your employees and ensure that you are creating value for money at your property.”
Some of the other main points covered in the President’s message were as follows:
• Despite an increase in visitor arrivals in Anguilla the occupancy percentage in most hotels seemed to be down. A number of properties were not being made to report occupancy figures to the Statistics Unit and were not operating up to 5-star standard. Many properties were undocumented and were not collecting taxes on behalf of the Government. A new competitor in the destination listed 287 properties on the island on rent. A similar company listed over 300. The Government was being urged to look into this matter; but not to do so alone without involving the Tourist Board and the Hotel and Tourism Association.
• The AHTA is concerned about the Tourism Marketing Levy, the Communications and Property Taxes. The Association is still lobbying the Government particularly about the Marketing Levy considered to be an unfair tax and a burden on the accommodation sector at a time when properties are struggling.
• The threat of diseases like Zika and Chikungunya is creating fear among travellers. The AHTA has been receiving calls from members losing reservations due to fear of Zika. One property lost over three million dollars during the month of April as a result of Zika.
• Airlift is a continuing challenge for Anguilla. With the additional three Seaborne flights, along with the new Trade Wind Aviation flights, the number of seats into Anguilla – out of the San Juan hub – is over 300 per week. In order for this to be maintained and eventually grow, it is imperative that this route becomes the route of choice for visitors and locals alike. This should not be difficult as Seaborne shares with three top airlines.
• The news of LIAT abruptly pulling out of Anguilla and Nevis, as of Saturday, November 19, will leave Anguilla with a void and will create a challenge for European visitors to Anguilla. The Tourist Board and the Hotel and Tourism Association have already met with the operators of Caribbean Helicopters (formerly used by LIAT), and are trying to ensure the fight remains an option for Anguilla’s visitors with possibly a short disruption in service.
• There is a need for a VIP Lounge at the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal, and improvements at the port in terms of service and ambience.
Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary Tourism, advised the meeting that the Tourist Board had teamed up with Mr. Karl Hal, a Tennis Tournament Director, to bring an international event to the Anguilla Tennis Academy, comprising over 200 players, guests, officials and coaches from all over the world. In addition, six travel writers from the US and Canada toured Anguilla and there were also four other tour operators from the UK on the island.
Mr. Connor also spoke about a series of Caribbean Tourism Organisation meetings he attended in London. He also told about plans for a year-long marking campaign engaging overseas markets as well as the Anguillian community and repeat guests. He reported that this week Anguilla would be represented at the CTO Media Marketplace in Toronto in an continuing effort to market Anguilla.
The Parliamentary Secretary applauded the West End Policing Group for its hard work in protecting the community, business places and the tourism industry. This is being done by funding the patrolling of the West End district at night-time by the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Morrison, expressed delight in working with the tourism industry and the West End residents and business community. “Our main focus and worry is gun crime and those who commit other violent crime such as armed robbery and aggravated burglary,” he stated. “The police service has modernised the way in which it approaches these crimes. In 12 hours we had two defendants in custody and charged [following a crime] and recovered some of the stolen property…There are probably about 20 very active serious criminals. We are mapping these people and we are trying to put as many of them away as we can. With significant key arrests we have seen drops in the robberies and the shootings… and that is because we are targeting those who are committing these crimes, and it takes skills and efforts.”
Another speaker was Mrs. Sandra Richardson, a member of the Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association. She extended a very warm welcome to the AHTA General Meeting. “It is a coming together of brilliant minds of Anguilla’s hospitality and supporting industries,” she stated. “Tourism is undoubtedly the well-spring of Anguilla’s economy. As we embark on yet another year, we are indeed thankful, though we are met with many challenges facing our tourism industry.
“In recent times, we have been challenged by the outbreak of the Zika virus which has been declared as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation. Anguilla is no exception. The current state of our economy gives rise to concerns as our investors are still guarded in making decisions about how and where to invest. No longer can we market sea, sand and sun as these are located in many other locations. The service that we provide must be impeccable. We must ensure that every guest experience is a lasting one that will bring them back to Anguilla.”
Mrs. Janine Edwards, Vice President of the AHTA, spoke in relation to “Tourism is the key”. Among other matters, she had this to say: “I reflect on the magnitude, the potential and the power of our tourism industry to transform the socio-economics of our community and bring the necessities of quality of life for all. I reflect and ruminate that we all – whether public or private sector, NGO or individual resident, manager of staff – we all are charged with optimising the success of our industry, and that is an awesome responsibility. The question is: Are we maximising our sector? Are we showing in our actions that tourism is in fact the key? Are we operating as tourism is everybody’s business? And are we doing all we can to mobilise our five-month industry to a year-round industry?”
Those, and others, were some of the questions which the members of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association were left to grapple with, and given an opportunity to answer, while also considering other matters over which they have concerns.
The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, Executive Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association.