After twelve years as a Board member and six years as President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA), Mr. Delroy Lake has demitted office in the private sector organization. He announced his departure while delivering a message at the private sector organization’s Annual General Meeting held at Aleta Restaurant, Four Seasons Resort and Residences, on Monday, November 26.
In reviewing the performance of the island’s tourism industry, Mr. Lake told the small gathering: “The year 2017/2018 was certainly a very difficult year for Anguilla on a whole, but for the tourism industry difficult is somewhat of an understatement. On September 6, 2017, when Hurricane Irma was finished with Anguilla, the entire tourism industry was in ruins with many millions of dollars in destruction. This left major hotels and restaurants with, anywhere, from six months to fifteen months out of business – with some uncertain about their return.”
He continued: “With the resilience of the Anguillian people, and the businesses, we can now see the beautiful place at the end of the difficult road. One of the successes that came from that resilience was the naming of Anguilla as the number one island in the Caribbean, for the second consecutive year, by Conde Nast Traveler.
“We must give kudos to the properties which, despite their damage, opened their doors. Special mention must be made of Carimar Beach Club, Paradise Cove and Shoal Bay Villas which opened their doors to the first responders. These were insurance personnel and the British Military among others. Some restaurants became creative in order to feed and entertain locals and visitors. Some of our members even got involved in coordinating and provided much-needed relief. Special mention muse be made of Blanchard’s Restaurant, Ani Villas, Leviticus Lifestyles and their owners. Thanks to Kenroy Herbert for organizing an island-wide clean-up only days after Hurricane Irma, and let us not forget the Anguilla Electricity Company which had the entire island powered in a hundred days.
“The efforts of all these persons and businesses, along with the opening of some of our tourism properties with improved services, are certainly some of the reasons why Anguilla was voted number one in the Caribbean again. Congratulations to all tourism-related businesses that are back in operation, and we look forward to the other properties that are about to reopen within the next two to three weeks.”
With his term as President of the AHTA expired, Mr. Lake looked at the financial situation of the organization: “As an association purely financed through membership fees, it needs to come up with alternative sources of income in order to make itself viable,” he stated. “The tourism sector holds billions of dollars in assets while the AHTA works diligently on their behalf – and struggles. In order for the AHTA to be respected and fully effective, and to always command a seat at the table, we must create alternative streams of revenue. The AHTA must be seen as more than an association which screams when things are not right, and as an association which can make right some of the ills.
“One of the ways in which the AHTA could have helped, if it had the financial wherewithal, was at the Blowing Point Ferry Port. For the past fourteen months, since Hurricane Irma, the departure section of the ferry terminal had been a tattered tent. This was certainly one area that a financially viable AHTA could have helped.”
Mr. Lake added: “After twelve years as a Board member and six years as President, my term comes to an end. However, the next Board must figure out how it can make the AHTA a financially viable association. I am aware that members are against increased membership fees so other methods of raising revenue will have to be looked at. In February 2018, the Board started discussions on an initiative, which has been adopted in many of the CHTA member countries, called the ‘Tourism Enhancement Fund’. This fund has been discussed with members and Government in an effort for the AHTA to adopt. It is now for the new Board to continue this as some other form of increased revenue initiative.”
During the meeting, a number of persons were elected to serve on the new Board. They are: Janine Edwards, Sunset Homes; Sandra Richardson, Richardson’s Car Rental; Sharon Richardson, Anguilla Community College; Peter Parles, Straw Hat Restaurant; Kerchelle Jn Charles-Hodge, Digicel; Jose Adamas, Four Seasons Hotel; and Rolf Masshardt, Carimar Beach Club.
The Executive Board has not yet been identified. This will be done when AHTA meets in December.
Other speakers at the Annual General Meeting were: Mrs. Janine Edwards, welcome remarks; Mrs. Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, introductory remarks; Mr. Christopher Richardson, address on training; and Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, who spoke on various matters related to the industry.
