The renowned Marriott Group of luxury hotel properties is anxious to have a resort in Anguilla, Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming was told on Tuesday, February 20.

Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming welcoming Mr. Marriott

The statement was made by Bill Marriott, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Marriott Group of hotels which includes such brand properties as the Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance. Mr. Marriott and his party of three executives had just flown to Anguilla by a private jet for a brief meeting at the Chief Minister’s Office and a visit to Cap Juluca and other local properties.

“We are thrilled to be here. We have heard many great things about your beautiful country and Ritz-Carlton is very anxious to have a hotel here on the island,” Mr. Marriott, who is based in Washington DC,” told the Chief Minister.

“We have been looking at this beautiful country for many years. I think the Ritz-Carlton flag would bring a lot of new customers to the island and will benefit the people of Anguilla because we would be providing more jobs. We also think we have a wonderful opportunity to enhance, improve and fix up Cap Juluca hotel.

“With additional investment and expansion somewhat of that hotel, I think we can have the finest resort in the Caribbean. With the Ritz-Carlton flag it would be a wonderful opportunity for increased tourism in Anguilla. We would be thrilled if that is to be part of us.”

Mr. Marriott, who was vacationing in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, explained that he was on a fact-finding mission to Anguilla. The main intention was to let the Chief Minister know how enthusiastic his hotel chain was about the island and the fact that there was an opportunity to develop a real world class resort here.

“We are concerned that Cap Juluca has somewhat not been maintained as it should be for a five-star resort and we hope to be able to restore it its better-than-ever situation,” he stated.

He introduced his accompanying team as comprising Bill Barry who is in charge of Construction for Ritz-Carlton Hotels; Carl Urving, Vice President for the southeast part of the United States and the Caribbean for all Ritz-Carlton hotels; and Issac Coutry who is in charge of development for all of the Caribbean for Ritz-Carlton.

“So you got the team here to make decisions and to take a high look of this wonderful country,” Mr. Marriott told the Chief Minister. Mr. Fleming, who had with him Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Victor Banks, said a further meeting would be held later in the day following the team’s tour to Cap Juluca and other properties.
The Marriott/Ritz Carlton Group has a partnership with the Gencom Group which has put forward a proposal for the development of Cap Juluca hotel. Auberge-Firesky and Anguilla Tourism Investment Limited (ANTIL) is also vying for the purchase of Cap Juluca.

The Government’s position includes the preservation of the well-established Cap Juluca brand and that 20 percent of its ownership must be Anguillian-owned. So far, only ATIL has emerged as a serious local entity willing to partner with an outside company to acquire Cap Juluca.

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