Oyster Bay, Coral Beach keeping the island dream alive

Oyster Bay, Coral Beach keeping the island dream alive

With so many aspects of doing business out of anyone’s control in these unpredictable times, particularly in the island’s hard-hit hotel industry, what can be done is keeping open lines of communication with customers, and having them look forward to the day they can return to an island paradise.

Oyster Bay Beach Resort (OBBR) and Coral Beach Club have been doing just that, with clear, realistic and thorough updates, paired with a new marketing campaign dubbed “We’re Saving Your Favourite Spot”.

An update published on March 23 provided the straight-forward state of affairs, letting clients know about air travel and business/activity restrictions, expatriation efforts, refunds, employment, the fact that there had been a few COVID-19 cases (without any reported community spread at the time), and what safety precautions the resorts would be taking.

On a more positive note, the resorts also shared with their customers this week that St. Maarten started the de-escalation process, via its Economic Re-Opening Plan – contingent, of course, on the country’s ability to further contain the spread of COVID-19.

“We miss you too,” they say. “You are our reason for being and your safety is our foremost priority. The island of St. Maarten is slowly emerging from a government decreed lockdown. Their dedicated actions have kept the health impact of COVID-19 to a minimum with only a small number of active cases, all of which are in isolation. However, while some airlines are allowing reservations, the island is not yet ready to open its gates.

“While we await the reopening of foreign travel soon, we have been making the most of our time in isolation. Oyster Bay Beach Resort has initiated extensive and comprehensive new protocols for cleaning, hygiene, and social distancing in accordance with public health and government recommendations.

“Additionally, we continue to maintain and improve the resort in anticipation of welcoming you back. We don’t yet know the exact date we can book your stay; nevertheless, we’ll be ready. In the meantime, we will update you as more information is made available. Keep the island dream alive – we’ll be together soon!

OBBR General Manager Ricardo Perez says that the resort has been able to keep its staff, providing 80 per cent pay, with some coming into work on a rotational schedule, and others – especially those with health conditions or of an older age – staying home altogether. Adding to the already negative income, unfortunately, was the blow of providing refunds as well as the timing of the pandemic, which could hardly be worse.

Hotels lost their revenues before finishing the high season, and will likely only be able to open back up in the coming the low season – during an economic turndown.

On the other hand, downtime has been used wisely: Improvements include maintenance, sanitation works, and one complete kitchen overhaul. The Standard Operating Manual has been updated, and every employee will be trained on it. New safety protocols, set to international guidelines, will be adhered to, as published by St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA).

On the plus side, the Caribbean is perceived as relatively safe, and there is a loyal base of timeshare owners ready to come in when that becomes possible, says Perez.

The resorts plan to relax cancellation policies, promote staycations, and provide special deals for first responders, who will most definitely need a relaxing break in the near future.

The Daily Herald

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