General Manager of Cap Juluca Resort in Anguilla, Eustace Guishard, is the recipient of the 2005 prestigious Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award called the Golden Conch Award.

Mr. Guishard

It was presented to him during the Hotelier of the Year Gala Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in Miami on Wednesday night June 29th. The presentation was made in the presence of hundreds of cheering people who attended the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC) and the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition. Among them were Anguilla’s Minister of Tourism, Victor Banks; Special Advisor in Tourism, Donna Banks; Director of Tourism, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch; Chairman of the Tourist Board, John Benjamin; Mimi Gratton outgoing secretary of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association; members of Mr. Guishard’s Executive Management Team and Staff as well as other Anguillian delegates.

President of the CHA, Berthia Parle, MBE said the award was introduced some years ago by Yesarvich, Pepperdine, Russell & Browne, a consultancy company with long involvement in Caribbean Tourism.
“It was designed to recognise the highest level of professionalism”, she said. “It is presented to someone who was totally committed and gave their time, energy and effort towards the property either as owner or as general manager as if it was their own.”

She said Mr Guishard was among a number of leading hoteliers and property developers in the Caribbean who had received the award over the years. “I think anybody who has this award should be indeed honoured for being in the company of those persons. It is a major, major achievement.”

Mimi Gratton said that to win such an award a person, as in the case of Mr. Guishard, did not have to be involved in the functions of the CHA. He was however a long-time supporter of the organisation, implementing its training and environmental programmes and allowing Cap Juluca and Anguilla to take the lead in this work. She stated that the CHA had taken into account his ccomplishments and that Cap Juluca was the top resort in the Caribbean. She added that the award was a significant one and she was excited by its presentation to Mr. Guishard.

The Cap Juluca General Manger commented: “I was surprised and very shocked as I never expected or thought to be awarded on such a level of excellence.” He went on, “A lot of this goes to my Executive Management and Staff. They are the ones who really earned this award because with all the pressure I have put them under, they really came through with their support and hard work. They should be proud of this award. I could never ever have accomplished this without them and I thank all of them very much. This award is not just for me. It is for all of them and for Anguilla.”

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