The final overnight stays for the Hello Tourist 2023 Program, took place over the period July 26 to August 15, 2023, as two regular class overnight stays and a special Winners’ Circle event were hosted.
Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary (AARPS) students were hosted for their Overnight Stay from July 26 – 27 by Belmond Cap Juluca. The students selected for this reward, were greeted upon arrival by members of the Management team and presented with a signature Belmond Cap Juluca tote bag filled with information on the property and a wide selection of goodies for the students to enjoy during the course of their stay. They were then taken on a tour of the property before going to their rooms to relax and unwind. Some more energetic students opted to ride around the property on the signature branded Belmond bikes.
Later that evening, the students got dressed up and were picked up and transported off property and treated to dinner at the Coconuts Restaurant at Rendezvous Bay. On day 2 of their stay, the students awoke early and took the opportunity to enjoy an early morning swim before being treated to a delicious breakfast at Pimms, overlooking the beautiful Maundays Bay beachscape.
After breakfast, the students embarked on a tour of the Olde Valley via the Rev. C. L. Carty Road overlooking the historic Katouche Valley. After a brief stop at the iconic Wallblake House for pictures, the tour headed over to Brimigen, where the students, led by Tour Guide, Jamal of QUEST experiences, engaged in an energetic hike to the picturesque Goat Cave Natural Site, before heading to lunch at las Olas Restaurant on Shoal Bay. After a delicious meal, the students took some time to complete their Evaluation Forms and express their gratitude to the service team before returning to their Sponsor Hotel to engage in Watersports and prepare for check out.
The Management and Staff were so impressed by the students that they offered them the option to apply to the hotel for a job upon completion of their studies. The students, for their part, could only think of one thing to change with the program: make it a bit longer!
The final class Overnight Stay took place from August 14 to 15, when a joint class of 20 students from the Valley Primary School were hosted by the Frangipani Beach Club. Upon check-in the students were greeted by the Management Team and served a complimentary drink. Students also enjoyed a variety of snacks from a specially curated basket in their Villa. The students relaxed for a little while in their rooms, before having a swim in their private pool. Then it was time to get ready for dinner at the Coconuts Restaurant of the Anguilla Great House.
On Day 2 of their stay, the students were treated to a wonderful breakfast in their villa prepared from items in their fully stocked fridge, compliments of the Frangipani Resort team. After breakfast, they were transported to the site of the Bedney’s Well where they learned about Anguilla’s challenges with drought and potable water, leading to the emergence of a well-digging culture. The students were enthralled by the stories found in the Rogers’ Well Interpretation Centre and learned that corn does NOT grow well in Sandy soil, and that the area between Frangipani and Malliouhana was once called Sandy Ground!
The students then headed back to Frangipani where they had scheduled Water Sports with the Water Sports Team for 2 hours from 10 am to 12:00 noon. Then it was off to lunch at Ocean Echo on beautiful Meads Bay, their home beach for their stay. After a delicious lunch they completed their Evaluations, and then it was on to a site inspection of the Charming Escape property, Carimar Beach Club. After the site inspection students received personal goodie bags filled with snacks compliments the Management and Staff. The students checked out from Frangipani Resort at 4:00 pm and on their way to their school, they engaged in a tour of the area overlooking Katouche Valley and Crocus Bay and on through the Olde Valley to Valley Primary, where they were collected by their parents.
The third group accommodated in this cycle was a special group comprised of the 18 Winners of the Individual Project for all six schools. This Winners’ Circle Overnight Stay was graciously accommodated by the Malliouhana Hotel after they were unable to coordinate the timing of their stay with their sponsored school, due to the hotel being fully booked at the time of the students’ availability.
The winning students checked in to the Malliouhana Hotel after being received by members of their Management team, and then were taken over to the Anguilla Arts and Craft Centre for a special tour hosted by Centre Manager, Malesia Carty. During the course of the tour the students were able to see their own pieces of art displayed among special pieces of local art on display at the centre. The students also were privileged to meet with local Jewelry Artist, Jane Price of JewelArt4U, who gave the students a tutorial to prepare them for a special Craft Project that they would undertake the next day as part of their day’s activities.
After the Art tour the students headed back to their hotel to relax before getting ready for dinner at Coconuts Restaurant. The next morning, students enjoyed an early morning swim before being treated to breakfast compliments their host hotel. After breakfast, the students headed up to Island Harbour where they engaged in a round of Mini Golf at the Anchor Facility at a specially discounted rate for the HTP23. After an exhilarating, fun session, the students were ready for lunch, which was served at Las Olas Restaurant at Shoal Bay. After lunch, the students headed back to their host hotel, where the afternoon was spent in a special creative, bonding session, as they created matching bracelets as a memento of their Day in The Winners’ Circle. After finishing their project, the students went to enjoy some final minutes in the pool.
Some guests who were nearby were so impressed by the students and their program that one gentleman ordered a round of pina coladas for all as his special treat. After checking out, the students headed to Ocean Echo for a Pizza Evening to cap off the Day’s proceedings. As part of the activities for that evening, Tourism Education Coordinator, Mrs. Candis A. Niles distributed trophies and prizes to the overall winners of the Individual and Group Projects. The students were then transported back to the TRC to be collected by their parents.
The Department of Education thanks its many sponsors for their decision to support this key program through the sponsorship of meals for the students as part of the program. Sponsors include The Anguilla Tourist Board, Aquam Water Services, Juluca Cares, Advance Caribbean, Richards Architecture and Design Services (RADS), Webster Law, Parts Haven, and Preston Hughes Transportation Services. The support of these partners makes this program possible. Our heartfelt thanks are also expressed to the Department of Youth and Culture (DYC) for its technical support, to the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) for its endorsement of this program through their participating hotels, and to the Anguilla National Trust (ANT) for its support of our hiking tours through the services of its knowledgeable staff.
