Some eleven months after signing a Memorandum of Understanding, the Anguilla Government and the new owners of Malliouhana Hotel (now Malliouhana-Auberge Resort) returned to the property on Tuesday this week to observe the progress of the restoration work and improvements there. The upgrading, including some demolishing and rebuilding, is aimed at returning the resort to being one of the world’ssmall leading hotels.
The group of investors, which purchased the hotel from the Roydon family, is AJ Capital Partners (Adventures Journeys Capital Partners). It is a Chicago-based dynamic group of opportunistic hospitality and real estate investors with a collective goal to acquire, reposition, and develop, highly sought after resorts and hotels. The group develops and operates commercial and hospitality assets and businesses throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico. The management company is Auberge Resorts—a collection of award-winning and world-class hotels and resorts in Napa Valley, California.
The Government’s delegation on the tour was led by Chief Minister Hubert Hughes, accompanied by media representatives, and the A J Capital Partners group included Brad Nichols, Ben Weprin and Mark Harmond along with Greg Togel of Tandem Ltd ( the construction firm) and JohnVasatka (the General Manager) who gave the welcome remarks.
Chief Minister Hughes was grateful to A J Capital Partners for undertaking the purchasing, refurbishing of the hotel. He hoped that later on the investors would expand the hotel to maximise its income capacity as well as contribute to employment and government revenue. He said that Malliouhana Hotel (which carries the Arawak name of Anguilla) was loved by the people of the island and that was shown by the fact that members of the foundation staff were still at the property. “They would call themselves the Malliouhaners like those at Cap Juluca who call themselves the Julucans,” he remarked. He wished the investors every success in their endeavours and asked them to assist in advertising Anguilla as “the best place on earth to be.”
Mr Mark Harmond, CEO of Auberge Resorts, speaking on behalf of the group, said the investors were a number of persons who love Anguilla. “I believe that is going to be fundamental to our success because each one of them will bring their friends… and there is a tremendous chemistry and spirit of deco among this group,” he stated. “They are very sophisticated, smart, talented boys and girls who have gotten together to create something very special.” He thanked the Government and people of Anguilla for embracing the group and allowing it the opportunity invest on the island.”
Another of the investors said that one of the important matters to consider was the legacy of Malliouhana, how well known it had become “and what a wonderful job the previous ownership has done – and that is what made this project attractive.” He said this was not only as an investment but also on the operating side. “It is a beautiful site – one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean and it has a great reputation as Anguilla does…” He stated that attention would be given “to keep those special components of Malliouhana – how well they looked after the guests and staff; how friendly [the management and staff] were, and did extraordinary things for people over and above what was expected.”
The refurbishing work includes the following: improving the spa building where the gym is located; the construction of a new spa facility in one of the former villas; brand new furnishings in the guest rooms; new bathrooms; air-conditioning in rooms where it did not exist; and building a new roof for one of the two restaurants. All of the 55 original rooms of the hotel will be brought into service with all the necessary upgrades and comfort for the guests. It is estimated that Malliouhana-Auberge Resort will resume operations in June 2014.
