Bill Marriott looks at Christophe Harbour site for Ritz-Carlton hotel
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St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) speaking with CEO of Marriott International, Bill Marriott in the VIP Lounge of the Robert Bradshaw International Airport. Center is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Mrs. Patricia Martin |
ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 17TH 2011 (CUOPM) – The man who could give the greenlight for a Ritz-Carlton to be constructed here visited St. Kitts’ Southeast Peninsula Thursday.
In welcoming Mr. Bill Marriott shortly after he arrived on his Executive Jet at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport Thursday morning, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas noted that the great emphasis placed by the Marriott on St. Kitts as a destination.
“We want to make sure that we can do whatever it takes to improve upon it. We rely on you for guidance and support,” said Dr. Douglas.
“We have a good team here (visiting) and a great hotel (St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort and Royal Beach Casino) and it has been successful and we want to do more here. We hope we can do a Ritz-Carlton sometime. Don’t’ worry,” said Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott International Inc. after introducing his team to Prime Minister Douglas, Mrs. Patricia Martin, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and Mr. Cedric Liburd, Advisor in the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Tourism and International Transport in the VIP Lounge at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.
Prime Minister Douglas, who played a major role in attracting the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, said his Government was ready to facilitate the construction and opening of a Ritz-Carlton within the multi-million Christophe Harbour Development Project.
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Mrs. Patricia Martin (left) shakes hands with Marriott’s CEO, Bill Marriott (right) upon being introduced by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas |
“We appreciate your great cooperation. Tourism is very important to you and it is also very important to us. You have great potential here. You have lovely people, beautiful climate,” said Mr. Marriott, whose leadership spans more than 50 years, and he has taken Marriott from a family restaurant business to a global lodging company with more than 3,100 properties in 67 countries and territories.
Asked about the airlift, Prime Minister Douglas informed Mr. Marriott of American Airlines’ daily flight from Miami; American’s twice weekly flight from JFK in New York; Delta’s weekly flight from Atlanta; US Airways weekly flight from Charlotte, South Carolina and British Airways twice weekly flight from London-Gatwick.
“Oh, that’s great,” responded Mr. Marriott, who also asked whether the Four Seasons in Nevis had reopened.
“That is good. That will help the island a lot, help Nevis a lot,” Mr. Marriott responded when PM Douglas answered in the affirmative.
After extending departing pleasantries, Mr. Marriott, accompanied by his Executive Vice President and other senior officials, went on a tour of the Christophe Harbour Development Project before departing St. Kitts.