The Anguilla Tourist Board and its newly-appointed Marketing Director in the United States, Marie Walker, have embarked on a very ambitious programme of increasing occupancy levels in Anguilla from 45 to 65 percent. Director of Tourism, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, alluded to this earlier in the week at a breakfast press briefing with a group of US travel agents at Tasty’s Café. She stated that one of the initiatives was a Travel Agents Tour Programme which was being referred to as The Alluring Anguilla Experience. It is hoped that through this effort the agents brought to the island would find it to be beyond their expectations and would be able to better sell the destination and subscribe to the new brand for Anguilla – Feeling is Believing.

At the breakfast press briefing at Tasty’s

Marie Walker brought in her first group of travel agents late last week. For several days, up to Monday this week, they stayed at and visited various upscale and mid-market properties to obtain a full firsthand knowledge of the island’s hotel industry. “We are looking at bringing a maximum of ten agents each weekend until the end of June from Thursday to Monday.” Ms. Walker said at the press briefing.

She pointed out that American Airlines/American Eagle were strong partners in the programme, thus making it possible to have the participation of travel agents from across the United States. She noted that 300 travel agents from throughout America had eagerly responded to the progarmme. According to her, the first group came from Washington, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Florida. They represented Marvellous Travel, Adventure Travel, Liberty Travel, Tri-Town Travel and New World Aviation. The travel agents said they were greatly impressed by the very attractive and different architectural designs of the hotels, the beauty of the island, its beaches and the friendliness of the people. They indicated that Anguilla was the right place for their inquiring clients.

Meanwhile, Ms. Walker, who was appointed Anguilla’s Marketing Director in December 2003, announced that the island’s first actual US office would be officially opened by the Mayor of White Plains in Rochester, New York, on June 8. The ceremony will be attended by Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Osbourne Fleming, Chairman of the Tourist Board, John Benjamin, Special Assistant for Tourism, Donna Banks, Director of Tourism, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch and President of the Hotel and Tourism Association, Sherille Hughes.

“We are happy to have a street level office in a busy area which allows us a greater visibility with a nice, big sign “Anguilla Tourist Board,” Ms. Walker reported. “We are not only there to provide information but to work closely with our partner such as travel agents, tour operators, coffee internet companies, meeting planners and various associations ensuring that we meet our visitor arrival goals.”

Prior to now Anguilla had representatives in the United States but without an actual Tourist Board Office.

L-R: Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and others

Mr. Fleming commented that he was pleased with the work of the Tourist Board and the appointment of Ms. Walker whom he said was a good choice. He was confident that the travel agents she was bringing to the island would help to achieve a substantial increase in the number of tourists to Anguilla.

Chief Minister Fleming (middle), other local tourism officials and travel agents outside Tasty’s

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