Source: Travel Weekly
“The region will open back up when people want to travel,” said James Henderson, its CEO. “I feel the appetite for travel will come back quickly and that leisure will rebound faster than business travel.
“I’m confident the demand for travel will emerge with a force, and when it does, people will gravitate towards locations and companies they know and trust,” he said. “They will want to travel to safe sanctuaries and will want to know beforehand the standards of hygiene and protocols that are being followed.”
With the private residences closed during the pandemic and in an effort to avoid staff layoffs, Henderson said work weeks were reduced to four days and salaries reduced but full healthcare benefits maintained.
“We want to support our staff and stand behind them,” he said. “Their relationships with our guests are very personal and very important.”
The company has been in communication with its members regarding closures, cancellations and destination information.
It recently launched a series of webinars covering health and wellness tips, as well as videos on wine, cooking and art.
To prepare for reopenings, enhanced maintenance and sanitizing measures have been put in place. Staff has undergone additional training to comply with whatever regulations are in place when airports and borders reopen and travel begins to resume.
“We’re bullish on being correctly positioned when we come back and when travel comes back — and it will,” Henderson said. “We have always offered consistency of product, safety and security for our guests, and that has not changed.”
Denver-based Exclusive Resorts, founded in 2002, is a members-only company with a portfolio of more than 400 residences and villas spread across 120 destinations.
The 50 Caribbean properties comprise 12.5% of the company’s collection, and several are within a five-star resort complex where members have access to resort facilities, such as those at the Four Seasons in Anguilla, Eden Roc in Cap Cana, the Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman and Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda. Other residences are freestanding, and all come with a concierge or “dedicated vacation ambassador” to handle guest arrangements before and during the stay.
Its 4,000-plus members pay a joining fee of $150,000 and thereafter pay $1,395 per night per stay at any of the homes, most of which have four to five bedrooms and living areas. The per-night price remains the same no matter how large the party or how long or short the stay.
