The Anguilla Tourist Board, charged with developing and marketing the island’s tourism product, has been reconstituted following the retirement of the Chairman, Mr. Eustace Guishard, and two members. The outgoing members are Mr. Delroy Lake, President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, and Mr.DouglasEckel, a longstanding member of the hospitality industry, now an executive at Viceroy.
The incoming Chairman is Mr. Leslie Richardson, who served as a Senior Manager and Director of the Caribbean Commercial Bank for a number of years. He is also the owner of an upscale villa,Modena, located at the Cove,West End, and of the long-established Highway Car Rental business located at George Hill.
One of the newly-appointed members, who has joined Chairman Leslie Richardson, is Mr. Scott Hauser. Hauser has many years of leadership in the real estate industry, as well as in various professional business services including Xerox, FedEX, Trade Marks and Corporate Management. He is also a representative ofZemi Beach Hotel development atShoalBay- and was the manager of the former family-owned Cinnamon Reef Hotel, at Little Harbour, which helped to formally launchAnguilla’s tourism industry in the mid-1970s.
The other new member is Ms Jackie Pascher who has been living inAnguillafor some 20 years. She is the owner/manager of Island Dream Properties – a villa rental and real estate company. Its services include restaurant reservations, spa services, boat charters and island tours.
Mr. Guishard presided over his last meeting on Tuesday, this week, when he formally handed over to the new Chairman, welcomed the two incoming members and thanked those who served with him over the past two years. Speaking to The Anguilian, he commented on the reconstituting of the Tourist Board and spoke highly of the new appointees:
“Well, I think it is the end of the two-year term and the Ministry is looking at just changing around things a little bit. I think it is a good thing. I don’t think Boards should be appointed for long periods… And you could not ask for a better group of incoming persons as Chairman Leslie Richardson, Scott Hauser and Jackie Pascher.”
Considering all the fine qualities of the entire membership of the organisation, Mr. Guishard stated: “It is a good board especially now that we are getting involved in the whole Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, and that there are some changes that the Ministry of Tourism, the technocrats and consultants are recommending forAnguilla.”
The three new members commented briefly on their appointments as follows: “I am a banker by profession so at least that aspect of experience I will be bringing to the Tourist Board,” Mr. Richardson said. “I am an entrepreneur to some degree, and so I have some knowledge of the tourism industry. Coupled together, I think I can be an asset somewhere. I hope to build on the foundation laid by the Board and to take it to the next level.”
Mr. Hauser commented: “It is a pleasure to be back – involved in the kind of formulation of tourism policy. It has been a long, long time since I was President of the Hotel and Tourism Association back in the early 80s.Anguillaseems to me to be somewhat in a middle age trauma. It is no longer the fresh new kid on the block, and yet it has not established viable long-term credentials. So it is going to be a very interesting transition period and I am happy to be part of trying to formulate the required policies.
“I come in without any pre-conceived notions. It has been a while since I have been directly involved in tourism. I am mainly focused on real estate and I will hopefully bring some of those skills to bear. I remain convincedthat the underpinning of all economies is the real estate market – with tourism just being one of the many aspects of real estate development.”
Jackie Pascher had this to say: “I feel honoured, and I take my responsibility very seriously.Anguillais now in a very serious position right now in our standing in the tourism market. I am happy to be part of a group to help to bring us out of that and put us in a strong position. I am very excited to be here.”
Meanwhile, reflecting on some of the issues facing tourism inAnguilla,Mr.Guishard emphasised the need to develop good access, particularly in terms of air services. He was pleased that the new port in Dutch St. Maarten, for Anguillian ferryboats, was now coming on stream to provide a reliable service for visitors arriving in that territory in-transit to Anguilla.
