Elite Island Resorts Personalizes the Caribbean Resort Experience

This article originally appeared in the April issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

Elite Island Resorts operates seven tropical boutique properties that offer a striking difference from the massive all-inclusive properties throughout the Caribbean and Mexico.

“Each hotel has its own unique personality, unlike a chain or the big-box Caribbean brands,” said Elite Island Resorts Chief Operating Officer Larry Basham. “We cover the entire market, from the very high end with Michelin-caliber chefs, down to the family-friendly market at St. James’s Club on Antigua.”

The properties also share several similarities. “The staff , first of all. People come back year after year, and the staff s remember their names,” he said. “We off er a much more fun, authentic, organic level of knowing the customers, developing relationships with the customers and remembering what they like to drink and their family members’ names. And that’s easier to do in a smaller setting. We have a significant level of repeater guests, so fostering relationships with our guests is our special sauce.”

Caribbean Connoisseurs

For many guests, it may be a step up from their first Caribbean experience, Basham said. “Our hotels are for people on their way to becoming Caribbean connoisseurs because we off er an organic, non-corporate experience,” he said. “We are very dedicated and committed to a couple of things, including hiring the locals. We hire, we train, we promote and empower the local people to make a great living and have a career in hospitality.”

Diversity and Inclusion

“We’re also very committed to promoting, hiring and creating opportunities for women and the LGBTQ community,” Basham added. “Diversity and inclusion have always been very important to us. We have one of the most diverse and female-driven workforces around.”

In fact, a woman, Sanjay Ambrose, is the managing director of operations for all the resorts on Antigua. The company also has several female general managers at its properties.

Furthermore, Elite Island Resorts is committed to local charities, including rebuilding homes after fires and hurricanes, life-changing surgeries for children, and supporting a student robotics team in Panama and Antigua’s donkey sanctuary.

The seven resorts – five in Antigua, one in Barbados and one in Boquete, Panama – are all inclusive and all but one are adults only. Some allow teens at 12 or 16 years old, but St. James’s is open to all ages. Rates range from $499 to 1,599 per night in the summer and $649 to $2,500 per night in the winter peak season.

Target Clientele

The ideal client for Elite Island Resorts are those “who really want a relaxing, organic holiday in stunning, beautiful locations – people who don’t want the hustle-and-bustle of a major resort or cruise ship,” Basham said.

“Our goal is for them to come, chill out, get active if they want, or spend the day in the spa, get some good food, relax and chill out. We want them to get home and say, ‘I can’t wait to get back there.’ If that’s all we do, we’ve accomplished our mission in life.”

Agent Assistance

Elite Island Resorts offers travel advisors sales and marketing assistance at eliteislandresorts.com/travel-advisor – plus a 20 percent commission year-round.

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