Business View Caribbean | Volume 9, Issue 1

51 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 major source market, the U.S., had Antigua as Level One meaning very safe to travel to with regards to COVID. So, we’ve seen a bumper summer, as they say.” Although Antigua has since experienced an uptick in COVID-19 cases, Phillips reports that, as of Jan. 2022, there are 13 flights a week arriving from London. He adds, “It is just like everywhere else, it goes up, it peaks, and it starts to come back down. We are seeing some shortfalls from the U.S. market, but the U.K. market remains pretty strong.” Working with Island Luxe, who represent Blue Waters, along with other Caribbean hotels and resorts, Phillips travelled to the United States in 2021 as part of a road show to attract travel agents. He shares, “We definitely want to make sure that we are not forgotten, and we continue to engage them even during the times when the rating isn’t as good.” Reinvestment is ongoing for the family-owned resort, where efforts are made to maintain the BLUE WATERS RESORT & SPA original charm, while updating and improving the guest experience. Although no major projects have been completed during the pandemic, Blue Waters has endeavored to keep the resort at its best. As Phillips recounts, “We always try to focus on our product. We think that it’s important that we keep it fresh. Our property has been around for 60 years, and when you walk through the lobby, you would never be able to tell.” Painting, adding new sun loungers, decorative cushions, and the addition of new plants and planters are some of the improvements to Blue Waters over the last year, along with deep cleaning throughout. “It is amazing what a quart of paint can do,” says Phillips. “We tried to just enhance and beautify our public spaces.” Another area of focus was on a series of pathways which wind through the property, leading guests through lush gardens as they move through the resort. “Our pathways were starting to look really old, and really tattered,”