Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, has expressed delight that Anguilla has won the coveted Island of the Caribbean Award for two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018.
He was presented with the 2018 award, just two weeks ago, at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Authority Organization Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Speaking to The Anguillian newspaper on Monday, February 4, Mr. Connor said: “Marketplace is organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Organization to bring hoteliers, travel agents and others together to see what the region continues to offer. Despite the hurricanes we had, in 2017, the Caribbean seems to be the destination where people want to come to. It is the region that sells first and then all the individual islands.
“For Anguilla to have won another award, in 2018, it is vitally important for us. It is a positive mark as we move forward with the product that we have – and continue to add to our industry. We expect to be at the very top.”
Asked how it was possible for Anguilla to have won two awards consecutively, Mr. Connor replied: “A number of agents normally give their opinion about a destination of choice, and for the past two years Travel & Leisure has voted Anguilla as the number one island in the Caribbean. For the product we have on display now, there is no reason why we cannot continue to strive for higher heights.
“It is not what the visitors are saying but also the investors such as Belmond Cap Juluca (which together with the entire brand has been bought by LVMH Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton); Four Seasons; CuisinArt Resort & Spa; Zemi Beach; and Quintessence, a new boutique hotel on the market. All of them have pretty much put us in a special bracket. In addition, are the natural beauty of our island, its beaches, our culinary aspects which are second to none in the Caribbean and, of course, the bottom line is our people. I think what is vitally important –and that has come across from so many visitors – is the welcoming spirit of Anguillians that really brings them back to the island. In order to maintain that, it is vitally important for future investors, coming to Anguilla, to understand that a key component of our tourism industry is making sure that our people are growing within the industry.”
Mr. Connor added: “You find that the majority of properties today are on the stock market for the highest bidder. The beauty is that Belmond is a brand name that is highly regarded internationally. To have someone else buy that brand says you are moving higher still. To have Moet Hennessey Louise Vuitton buy into Anguilla – and that’s what they are doing – is saying that they see it as an investment. Of course, it is the overall investment of Belmond, but Anguilla is part of that.”
The above company, mentioned by Mr. Connor, is a French multi-national luxury goods conglomerate with headquarters in Paris.
