More than five hundred Caribbean tourism representatives – and many others from outside the region, including tour operators, the travel trade press, retailers, and wholesalers – have heard about the state of tourism in Anguilla.
The information was given by Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for Tourism, Sports, Youth and Culture, Mr. Cardigan Connor. He was at the time delivering an address at the 2016 State of the Industry Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Barbados from September 14-16. The event, sponsored by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, had as its theme: “Honouring Our Legacy, Defining Our Future”.
Mr. Connor was accompanied by Mrs. Donna Banks, Chairperson of the Anguilla Tourist Board, and Ms. Gina Brooks, Tourism Planner. Mr. Connor’s point presentation, though lengthy, contains a vast amount of material, some of which is not known locally. Accordingly, it is hereby reprinted in The Anguillian in an easy-to-read form for public information.
Below are Mr. Connor’s remarks:
• We have good news to report from Anguilla – our tourist arrivals are up 9.5% for the first quarter and another 5% for the second quarter. All our key overseas markets have recorded growth, with the result that we are ahead of target projections for 2016.
• We created a new positioning for our destination – “Anguilla: British Caribbean” that works globally across all markets. We also launched a new campaign – “Anguilla is the Answer” — that we believe conveys our tourism message and captures the essence of all that we have to offer.
• As the featured destination for the prime time network series “Coupled”, stunning visuals of Anguilla streamed into millions of homes across North America. The ten part series averaged a viewing audience of 1.2 million per episode, and included repeat broadcasts in the two-week period before the series finale on August 2.
• We capitalized on the series broadcast with a promotional partnership in our largest source market, New York, on WNYW-FOX5. We created our first ever :30 TV ad, a :15 video postcard, sponsored content ran for 4 weeks on FOX5.com, and we ran a sweepstakes contest – Swipe Right to Anguilla — with Arawak Beach Inn, one of the two properties featured in the series.
• Next year we celebrate Anguilla 50, representing 50 years of progress since we seceded from the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, and elected to chart our own path to development, as a British dependent territory.
• Anguilla 50 will be our umbrella theme for 2017, and we aim to capture consumer attention, generate extensive media interest and coverage, and present visitors with a compelling reason to travel. We will be bringing Anguilla’s unique spirit, culture and traditions to the marketplace. We are also working with our stakeholders to create special value-added packages and promotions to make it as easy and attractive for visitors to join us in Anguilla next year.
We continue to excel
• Anguilla was just named the #1 Caribbean destination to visit this Fall by Caribbean Journal.
• We were voted the #3 winner of the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards for The Islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas
• Shoal Bay East was once again recognized as the best beach in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor
• Last month our Dolphin Discovery Anguilla was awarded Caribbean’s Leading Tour Operator of 2015 by Carnival Cruise Line.
• We have a number of new resorts and events happening this Fall, which I will share with you later on, and we are improving access to our island by both air and sea.
• We continue to attract a celebrity clientele, drawn to Anguilla by the low key, laid back welcome we offer; and our vibrant culinary scene is a major draw for the affluent travelers that are Anguilla’s natural audience.
• We enjoy an enviable reputation as the authentic Caribbean experience: beautiful beaches, understated luxury, safe and hassle free, with a friendly inviting people.
New Developments on Island
Access
• Improving access is a critical factor as we seek to increase overall tourist arrivals.
Public Ferry
• Last year we planned to introduce a late night shuttle service that would operate from the Anguilla-St. Maarten ferry terminal on the Dutch side to Blowing Point ferry terminal in Anguilla.
• We have been working diligently to resolve all outstanding issues, and we are hopeful that this service will be in place for the upcoming winter season.
• The late night ferry will allow guests arriving from the West Coast on American Airlines to transfer to Anguilla that same night, instead of having to overnight in St. Maarten.
Seaborne Service
• As of November 1st, Seaborne Airlines plans to operate service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, into Anguilla five days per week, up from the former 3-day service.
• The Anguilla Air & Seaports Authority is fully committed to making the improvements required at the Clayton J Lloyd airport in order to accommodate this increased service.
• The new Seaborne schedule will also include evening flights on the weekend, to facilitate connections from the West Coast of the US and from Europe.
• This increased schedule service will greatly expand options for our visitors, presenting a viable alternative to the St. Maarten and Antigua gateways.
Resorts
• We are delighted to welcome the prestigious Four Seasons brand to Anguilla this Fall. This represents a tremendous vote of confidence in our island.
• Slated to open on October 20, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla will feature 166 accommodations including dedicated resort guest rooms, whole-ownership beachfront private residences, 5,000 square-foot villas, and vacation rental units.
• Set on a 3,200 foot perfect beach, amenities include world-class dining, an 8,100 square-foot spa and a wide range of pool and watersport activities.
• A range of special introductory offers for families, groups of friends or couples looking for a romantic retreat are on offer, through the festive season.
• The Reef by CuisinArt on Merrywing Bay, Opens November 2016: This chic beachside resort with an urban flair features 80 accommodations, ranging from Golfview and Seaview Junior Suites in the main building, to spectacular Junior Suites in the four beachfront buildings.
• Amenities include a fitness center, library, and boutique, two tennis courts; the Yacht Club restaurant, which opens to the spectacular pool; and Breezes, a stunning beachfront restaurant and bar. Guests enjoy signing privileges at all facilities of CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, including restaurants, bars, boutiques, the award winning Venus Spa, and preferred rates and tee times at the CuisinArt Golf Club.
• Manoah Boutique Hotel: Also opening in November, this luxury beachfront haven with 25 elegantly furnished guest rooms and an extravagant Presidential Villa, is set on two and a half miles of powdery white sand in the renowned Shoal Bay East.
• Amenities include The Manoah Spa, offering a unique combination of ancient and modern therapies; Ocean Beach Club restaurant, with two tropical beach bars; a Chic Boutique, Fitness Center, an outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool with sunbathing deck and an innovative water sports program.
• The Altamer Marina Project: Negotiations are being finalized for this important development, which will also comprise a marina and a 164-room resort property. An official announcement will be forthcoming later this Fall.
Attractions
Anguilla is ideally suited for family vacations, and we have three new family-friendly attractions that will delight kids of all ages.
• The new Anguilla Aqua Park opened in April – it’s an inflatable water park with a series of interconnected trampolines, slides, and climbing structures. It is located at Cove Bay Beach, for those of you who know the island, just in front of Smokeys.
• The Mermaid School, available at select beaches across the island, outfits kids in mermaid tails, mermaid accessories and make-up for a unique mermaid experience.
Events
Anguilla also has some brand new events this Fall which we believe will attract a new cadre of visitors to our shores.
• November 11 – 13: Livin’ in the Sun, Sandy Island Revolutionary music festival which brings the world’s best deejays together on the world’s best beaches in Anguilla. Global music, top notch food and beverage service, live art and water sports dovetail to create the ultimate music festival experience in an ideal setting. It is a sensory journey; an audio, visual and culinary feast.
• November 12 – 19: ITF International Jr. Tennis Championship, Anguilla Tennis Academy
• This inaugural International Tennis Federation Championship for junior and senior players is expected to attract around 130 participants to the island.
• Anguilla is now the third leg of a Caribbean tennis circuit, building on events in Jamaica and Cayman. Two wild cards will be given to the host country. A local tournament will be held prior to the event and the winner will be presented with one wild card. The other wild card will be given to the winner of the one-day regional qualifier tournament to be held in Anguilla on November 11th.
Our signature events next year are all taking place under the Anguilla 50 umbrella.
• Moonsplash – Our iconic music festival will be better than ever, as part of the Anguilla 50 celebrations. March 9 – 12 at Dune Preserve.
• Festival Del Mar – Our annual seafood festival takes place in Island Harbour over the Easter weekend of April 15 – 16
• Anguilla Day Celebrations – The entire month of May, building up to Anguilla Day on May 30
• Welches Folk and Village Festival on Whit Monday, June 5 – Our family oriented community festival is a joyful celebration of authentic Anguillian culture
• Summer Festival, July/August: A celebration that includes Carnival, street parades, boat racing, beach parties, food festivals and homecoming festivities.
Closing
• Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on our special celebrations for Anguilla 50.
• We are confirming the special calendar of events, and will be sharing the information with you as programs are confirmed.
• We hope to welcome you to Anguilla to celebrate with us next year – and thank you for helping us to spread the good news about Anguilla.
