Business View Caribbean - Oct 2023

34 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 10, ISSUE 10 an adrenaline junkie, a relaxation seeker, or somewhere in between, Papagayo promises a Caribbean adventure like no other. Redefining Luxury in Curaçao As the world of travel rebounds, destinations like Curaçao are witnessing a surge in tourism numbers. With more resorts springing up on the island post-COVID, the competition is fierce. Yet, amidst this bustling landscape, Papagayo Beach Resort continues to carve its niche, offering an unparalleled experience that goes beyond just luxury accommodations. General Manager of Papagayo Beach Club, Harm Musschenga, acknowledges the challenges of the current landscape. “Of course, we see the same number of tourists as last year. But with more resorts built in Curaçao post-COVID, there are more places for these tourists to go to. It’s challenging to always keep our clientele,” he admits. However, what truly sets Papagayo Beach Resort apart is not just its physical attributes but the ethos that drives its operations. Amadou O.M Njie, the COO, emphasizes, “What makes us unique compared to other resorts is the level of service we provide. We are made up of eighty villas, three royal villas, and two presidential suites. We just finished renovating them last December, which is state of the art. We are the only resort on the island that provides a world-class kitchen in the villa. Most of our guests are business owners or high-end individuals from Europe.” The recent renovations further elevate the resort’s offerings. Musschenga explains that the beach club includes a restaurant, an inside event room with a bar, an outside bar, and a large beach with two big pools. For the renovation, everything is completely remodeled. Beach beds, chairs, and all furniture are renewed with the most high- end designer pieces available. The resort aims to create a more open concept for the restaurant, removing walls to merge the beach and the restaurant into one cohesive concept using its unique design elements. Navigating Renovations Amidst Global Challenges In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, renovations are a crucial aspect of staying relevant and appealing to discerning travelers. However, the recent global challenges have added an unexpected layer of complexity to such endeavors. Papagayo Beach Resort, in its pursuit of excellence, embarked on a significant renovation journey, one that was not without its set of challenges. Musschenga sheds light on the intricacies of this process, “We always use local companies. But since we are on an island, the furniture has to be shipped in, and in this case, it came from Europe. After COVID-19, the prices for container shipping soared, and the waiting times extended. For some items, we had to wait over 6 to 7 months.” Despite these challenges, the resort’s commitment to its vision meant that the renovations, which began in January of the previous year, saw the last of the products arriving in December.