Apart from playing host to many Hollywood stars and being voted one of the top 100 most romantic places to visit and top ten most romantic beaches, the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort has recently upgraded its chances at being voted the island’s best large hotel.
In sync with their accustomed quality and class, the Windjammer Landing Resort held the official opening ceremony for their new Hibiscus Suites on Wednesday. Invited were all who played an integral role in the completion of the 12 rooms, including hotel staff, to whom their manager, Anthony Bowen, was most grateful to.
The gala affair began with an in-depth tour of the immaculate rooms, furnished with fashionable ratan and flat screen TVs. Two huge and welcoming king-sized beds, a kitchenette, laundry and two lovely baths, tubs included. On the outside, a gorgeous oak table with bamboo accessories sits adjacent to a steaming hot Jacuzzi. All 12 rooms share two swimming pools, just a few feet away, and of course, the breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.
In fact, the story of how these villas came to be is rather interesting. The opportunity to construct the additional rooms, came out of a near disaster, when over a few weeks, three large villas nearly slid into the seas below them. Now, the product is finished and it stands as an intriguing compliment to the hills around it. Minister for Tourism, Senator Allen Chastanet, called the occasion one "very close to my heart."
"My first job in tourism was here at the Windjammer Landing in 1990. Developers are really a special breed and sometimes we really don’t appreciate enough of what they do and the commitment they give to make this thing happen," said Chastanet. He added that even during the gulf war, Don Smith and his family lost no faith in St Lucia, despite losing millions monthly. Instead, said Chastanet, they have "continued to grow from strength to strength and I think they deserve an incredible round of applause, not for this, but for what they have already done."
An emotional Anthony Bowen first thanked Metro Construction for delivering the new villas "on time and on budget." "Any of you who are in the hotel business knows and I want to say a very special thank you to the entire team from housekeeping who have been on this night and day to get the furniture in the suites. I would really like to thank my lady, Candy, the love of my life, who has worked really hard, my food and beverage director and Marilyn Isaacs," began Bowen.
"Minister this is nothing personal, I was hoping tonight that a good friend of mine, Philip J Pierre would have been here. Since I am on a work permit I can’t vote, so I party and minister I hope to keep the work permit a little bit longer. Maybe if I stay for one more year I will be able to get my residency father," he said, turning to Monsignor Patrick Anthony. "Pray for me."
"Pip [Pierre] really encouraged us when all of this was going on two and a half years ago. He said you have got to build it up, Windjammer has a reputation. And Pip helped get things on stream and Allen, I speak to you as a friend, instantly. When you were in there you said, ‘Tony’ anything that we can do, let me know where we can help you. We want this to come through.’ Windjammer has been here for 18 years and this is the beacon and I thank both of you for your friendship and your help," said Bowen. The evening went on with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the tourism minister and Mrs Montoute, Lenard Montoute’s wife, did the honours.
Caption: The Hibiscus Suites are now ready for guests.