Mr. Kenroy Herbert is one of Anguilla’s most industrious young men, with a passion for excellence and patriotism. He has made a name for himself and Anguilla in the hospitality industry through Leviticus, a Lifestyle Company engaged in Luxury Villa Management, Luxury Travel, Luxury Villa Rentals, Concierge Services and Events Management; and through OLYMPUS Chauffeur Services – providing the best in Luxury Ground Transportation & Limo Services.
The nature of his hospitality business extends far beyond the shores of Anguilla into the regional and international travel trade markets. It is no wonder that this enterprising young man has just been honoured with a Regional Statesman Award by iChange Nations – an organisation focused on “Bringing Back The Lost Art of Honor”.
A Sixth Form graduate, Kenroy originally wanted to be a pilot, but changed his mind at the persuasion of his adopted family following an unfortunate crash that took the life of a loved one. He worked in the Anguilla Government’s Water Lab for many years but the monotony of the job led him to resign and to aspire to a higher calling. He was offered employment at Anguilla Rums as an Assistant Manager in the Lab and was quickly promoted to Production Manager. That was a steppingstone to the hospitality industry. He was able to interact with tourists visiting the tasting room. Still pursuing a higher calling, he successfully applied for a job advertised in The Anguillian newspaper (where he worked briefly) for a caddie at Anguilla’s then newly-established golf course. “I said to myself this is a way to get my foot into the hospitality industry,” he recalled. “I quit a managerial position at Anguilla Rums and went to be a caddie – carrying people’s golf bags. Everybody though I was nuts, but I saw that as a way of getting into the hospitality industry. I told them – hey, I am not going to be a caddie forever. Six months later I became the Assistant Caddie Manager so I had a goal in mind. Unfortunately, the golf course closed down when we had the market crash and the global meltdown.
“I had a job offer from Cap Juluca to work in Purchasing, and at the front desk at CuisinArt, but that was not the route I wanted to take to the hospitality industry. Later, I saw an advertisement in The Anguillian newspaper from the Manager at Ricketts & Associates for a Villa Manager. In the interview I told Robin and Sue Ricketts that I was the least likely candidate for the job because I had no experience, and if I didn’t get the job I would love to work free and learn the business. I came in as Junior Villa Manager and when I resigned I was the Operations Manager of Ricketts & Associates. I worked there for over eight years. I learned a lot from Robin and Sue Ricketts who were pioneers in the hospitality industry at Cap Juluca and Malliouhana Hotel. The rest is history as it came to a point where I needed to be on my own.”
It was then that the enterprising, visionary and highly-motivated Kenroy realised his dream and started Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel. “It is more than just a Villa Company,” he stressed. “We are a Lifestyle Management Company. The difference between us and the other villa companies in Anguilla is that they focus primarily on villas and guests coming to Anguilla, whereas I wanted to think globally. A lot of our clients come to Anguilla but this is not the only destination they visit. When Mr. X goes to Dubai, St. Barths, why should I lose him as a client? Why should I only have him as a client when he is in Anguilla? With technology, the world has become a very small place. That is where I got the idea to start Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel. We focus on our clients and their vacations and I am a Concierge at heart. I love to plan vacations, parties, events. That is my element and I would be a Concierge for life. Even though I am an Entrepreneur and Business Owner, I love planning vacations and stuff like that. So that is basically it in a nutshell.
“When I left Ricketts & Associates, I hit the ground rolling because of the friendships and relationships. As Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel, we made a name for ourselves in the short time we have been open, and we love to give back to the community. We sponsor a lot of events. We give back a lot to education, including schools and the D.O.V.E. Centre. We are big in boat racing. We sponsor the Sonic, one of the winning boats, and I am very proud to see our logo on that boat when it comes in first.”
Kenroy continued: “I have just started another company called OLYMPUS Chauffeur Services. There is none in Anguilla like this. People would buy nice vehicles but the service is only on the calibre of a taxi. With our service, we have the high-end, late model vehicles. Our operators are not drivers. They are chauffeurs – concierges on wheels. When visitors are met by us at our ports of entry, they are met by a greeter and the chauffeur with a cold towel and a bottle of water. Our vehicles have complementary WiFi so that our guests can connect with their families using whatsapp and other social media and it does not cost anything. We supply our visitors with the New York Times, the Miami Herald as well as The Anguillian newspaper. We also supply magazines, telephone chargers and other things – just to enhance the ride experience from point A to point B. It is the little things that make the difference in the overall guest experience.
Why the hospitality company’s name of Leviticus? Kenroy was asked, on the basis that, for Biblical students, Leviticus is the third book in the Old Testament.
“I didn’t choose the name in its Biblical connotations,” he replied. “I chose it because it was different and unique, and I think that in the Hebrew Language it means “he who serves” – and it is a great conversation piece. People used Biblical names for companies like Exodus and Genesis, but you really don’t find companies called Leviticus. I like names that you can remember because they are different – hence the reason I chose OLYMPUS Chauffeur Services. Olympus was the home of the gods. What drives me is that I want to be the best, and I want to build something that is going to be around longer than when I have passed. Maybe my daughter might grow up and be involved in the business, but I want to create a legacy and the leave the world better that I met it.”
Among Kenroy’s ambitions is to expand his hospitality business in various parts of the Caribbean. “We manage nine villas in Anguilla and can book any villa here, but we only manage nine spread across Anguilla, and we prefer high-end villas,” he said. “I prefer the ultra-luxury market because that’s the market I am used to.” His company also books a large number of villas in St. Barths. I love St. Barths and made many trips there, and I partnered with one of the major companies,” he disclosed. “Instead of competing with them, I decided to partner with them. I have access to all of their villas and we chose 150 of the best ones. When our guests go to St. Barths we can fly up there and meet them, but this particular company takes care of all the on-island work for us. We are also going to expand with villas in Barbados, by the end of the year, and we will soon start to represent Calivigny Island off the coast of Grenada. We are going to keep expanding throughout the Caribbean and then globally.”
Kenroy is grateful to his wife, Mrs. Kirsten Herbert, and a cadre of family and friends whose support assisted in making it possible for him to succeed in life so far.
Meanwhile, he is finding time to be very vocal on a number of issues in Anguilla that are dear to his heart, and has recently done a posting to that effect on his Facebook page. With his patriotic love for his native Anguilla, and his concerns for its present and future leadership, he hopes one day to try his luck at the polls but not in terms of party politics.
He is keenly interested in the proposed island-wide polling or at large voting system. Probably by 2025, once the Anguilla Constitution allows it, he may opt to compete for a parliamentary seat. “If Anguilla is on the same path, I am definitely going to run,” he declared. With his success, just two years ago, with Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel Company, in the hospitality industry, he may no doubt gain an electoral place in local politics and leadership. For him, the sky is the limit.
