LANDINGS REASSURES: ‘We are doing quite well!’

“Everything is running smoothly and we are open for business and doing quite well as a matter of fact,” says Lyle Pauls, General Manager of The Landings, St Lucia. He was responding to queries, after the resort broke off from its management company earlier this year.

The Landings and US Management company “Rock Resorts,” have parted company, but according to the owners, the aim has been since then to consolidate the future of their one hundred and sixty employees. No longer directed by the original development company, owners and management are said to be redoubling efforts to take The Landings forward as the premier luxury resort on Saint Lucia. “What one has to understand is that the developer is under one company and the hotel is another and the actions of the developer does not and has not affected the hotel at all,” Pauls told the Star. “So we want to assure the public that we are open for business and that we are continuing to market the resort as a premium property on the beautiful island of Saint Lucia,” he added.

Last week the management team of The Landings organized a media lunch, giving media personnel an overview of some of the changes and upgrades at the resort. The pristine, exquisite, charming and exotic look of the resort was still very much intact, with the inviting warm smiles of the staff another sign of the normalcy of things there. Management later sought to allay fears of layoffs boldly stating “no more layoff as Landings looks forward to a bright new future.” In a statement from executive director Oliver Gobat, he noted that The Landings is an incredible property with beautiful accommodations and with comfort and luxury that would satisfy the most discerning travelers. Hailing Lyle Pauls as a first class General Manager, Gobat added that the new GM has a proven track record and has ably steered the resort through what were difficult times. Already, a robust marketing drive is yielding good fruit for “The Landings” with bookings already higher at this time when compared to the same period in 2011 Pauls informed the media. The resort is also recording significant bookings already for 2013. In preparation for the anticipated increased business, The Landings is opening up an additional twenty five villa suites.

The Resort already boasts seventy two spacious one, two and three bedroom first class villa suites, including six super luxury penthouse suites with the options of ocean view, beach front or harbor view. The resort offers fine dining at The Palm as well as informal dining at the Beach Club and three swimming pools. The Landings also includes a full service spa, two floodlit tennis courts, a health club and a gymnasium with the centre-piece being the resorts private marina. Presently The Landing is rated with the AAA Four Diamond Award and is listed among Trip Advisors Travelers awards as one of the top 25 Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean. Located at the entrance of the Pigeon Island causeway “The Landings” is also seeking to break-down the perceptive walls of not being open to locals. “We have always been and we will continue to be open to the Saint Lucian public,” Pauls says. “We have done a few things in the past to attract the local business. Do we need to do more, certainly but we will continue to welcome Saint Lucians who want to come in for lunch, brunch, or dinner or to spend a night or a weekend,” he added.

Presently the resort offers a great Sunday brunch package as well as a happy hour Friday which is seeing very good local traction. And, according to Pauls the resort is also planning a great New Year’s Eve party with a “Venice” theme. “This is going to be something as has never been witnessed here before and we are offering different packages for persons interested in ringing in the New Year at The Landings,” he says. “So overall I want to thank the media for their hard work over the years and to say once again that we are open, we are doing well and we are happy to be here as part of the Saint Lucian community and adding to this great tourism product,” Pauls ended by saying.