How Anguilla Is Expanding Traveler Options Post-Outbreak

Trained as a chemist, he nevertheless found himself drawn toward hospitality. He soon began a resort career as a staff member at the premium golf course that is now part of the new Aurora Anguilla Resort.

Access to Anguilla has expanded, with American Airlines recently announcing the launch of twice-weekly flights from Miami beginning December 11, the first direct flights to the island from a U.S. gateway. Frequencies will increase to three departures weekly beginning Jan. 2, 2022.

TP: How has your tenure as ATB chairman, which began during the pandemic, progressed to this point?

TP: How is your agency working to improve the experience for visitors to Anguilla?

TP: Are there other plans in the works?

TP: What traveler amenities and facilities will the new St. Maarten facility feature?

KP: The [St. Maarten] port will be designed to handle 4,000 passengers a day. It will have four wharf slips, four VIP departure lounges which hotels can take advantage of with branding, and a huge [main] departure lounge. It is a seaport but designed like an airport, with restaurants and bars. When that is complete that will also enhance the guest experience for visitors arriving from St. Maarten. St. Barts may also become a partner in this.

TP: Anguilla is upgrading its international airport. Is the country still exploring plans to build a new airport?

KP: Our airport has been subject to a long debate. [But] if you have all of those beds, you need heads. Now, do we want to be like St. Maarten and open the floodgates? No. We want to control the flow and type of passenger. We have to be very strategic in the way we open up and allow flights to come in.

TP: What other Anguilla properties will greet visitors this winter?

KH: Belmond Cap Juluca is one of those iconic hotels that cannot do any wrong [and] was still hosting 90 percent occupancy and 100 percent occupancy in the high season. The hotel needed renovations, but people were still coming. Since Belmond bought it and renovated it, they are now going to add a world-class spa facility. I think people will fly in just to go to that spa. Malliouhana is the first five-star resort in Anguilla since being bought by Auberge and still holds that title. And on the eastern end of the island is Zemi Beach Resort, which is great. Anguilla also has more villa rooms than hotel rooms. There are a lot of options for accommodations.

TP: What were the first days of reopening to visitors following the outbreak like?

TP: Do you believe Anguilla did a good job of handling the outbreak locally?

TP: How did ATB respond initially?

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