Ritz Carlton to operate luxury resort in St Lucia

(L-R) Alejandro Acevedo, Regional Vice President, Marriott International; Mohammed Asaria, vice chairman of Range Developments; and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet signing the operating agreement. Photo: Caribbean News Now

By Caribbean News Now contributor

CASTRIES, St Lucia — Ritz Carlton, the luxury hotel subsidiary of Marriott International, on Thursday signed an operating agreement with Range Developments and the government of Saint Lucia to operate the planned new resort development at Black Bay on the beautiful southern tip of the island.

Ritz Carlton has 91 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories, including six in the wider Caribbean: Aruba, Cayman Islands; Mexico, Puerto Rico (2); and USVI.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Marriott/Ritz Carlton by Alejandro Acevedo, regional vice president of Marriott International; Mohammed Asaria, vice chairman of Range Developments; and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.

The heart of the Black Bay Master Development will consist of Ritz Carlton branded hotel and villas set on 180 acres. The site is on the Caribbean southwest coast, within easy reach of the international airport and the Pitons, the world famous heritage site. The master development will be developed in a number of phases.

The Ritz Carlton hotel, the anchor of the master development, will be developed under the country’s citizenship-by-investment programme and will comprise 180 rooms.

Range Developments has received plaudits and awards both for its designs and robust and innovative corporate social responsibility activities. This will be the company’s third major luxury development in the Caribbean, following the Park Hyatt St Kitts, which is due to open in November, and Kempinski Dominica.

The Park Hyatt St Kitts won the prestigious Best New Hotel Construction and Design St Kitts and Nevis award at The International Property Awards 2014-2015. It also won the coveted award of Best New Hotel Construction and Design in the Caribbean 2014-2015.

The Ritz Carlton will be designed and built to the highest standards in keeping with Range Development’s ethos and the project will create about 500 jobs on the island during construction, with a similar amount once the hotel is operational.

Saint Lucia’s citizenship-by-investment programme is aimed at encouraging investment in the island. Investors not only have a chance to invest, but assuming they meet the stringent requirements, apply for citizenship of the country, with all the benefits of full citizenship.

Link : http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Ritz-Carlton-to-operate-luxury-resort-in-St-Lucia-35261.html

Regional developer aims to make a difference through CSR agenda (updated on 20170717)

Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica

DUBAI, UAE — Leading regional resort developer Range Developments has announced the formal launch of its corporate and social responsibility (CSR) program. It will focus its efforts on four main areas:

1. Children
2. Family
3. Entrepreneurs
4. Communities

One of the foremost developers of luxury resorts in the Caribbean, including the Park Hyatt St Kitts and the Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica, has launched a dedicated section on its website to allow people to track progress and suggest ways to access support for projects.

Range Developments already has a proven track record of CSR in the countries that it operates. When Tropical Storm Erika hit Dominica, Range responded rapidly with a boatload of food, water and medical supplies. In St Kitts and Nevis it has sponsored summer camps for children as well as scholarships to schools. 

Range Developments is determined to achieve considerable results with its comprehensive CSR strategy and aims to be on the forefront of all aspects of the CSR.

“With the launch of this initiative, we are here to say that Range Developments not only undertakes an environmentally responsible approach to the construction of our high-end resorts but also looks forward to closer links with the people of islands we operate in,” says Kamal Shehada, development director of Range Developments. 

To ensure execution of the company’s vision, a dedicated CSR team has been established whose sole role it is to work with local communities to understand their main vulnerabilities and to identify the areas Range Developments can take the lead on.

‘I’m truly honoured to be part of such an impactful organization – one that invests in local communities and places the success and growth of its CSR as paramount and integral to its core values as a business,” says Kamila Ondrackova, CSR regional manager at Range Developments. “Many of our CSR initiatives bridge the gap between local talent and industry, creating fantastic opportunities for employment and economic growth. I look forward to supporting our local communities and am very excited for the future.” 

Range Developments focuses on luxury developments that are well-designed, sustainable and desirable. Park Hyatt St Kitts, the company’s flagship project, set to open its doors in November 2017, won the prestigious Best New Hotel Construction and Design Caribbean award at The International Property Awards 2014-2015; and the coveted award of Best International New Hotel Construction and Design 2014-2015.

Link : http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Regional-developer-aims-to-make-a-difference-through-CSR-agenda-35082.html