Travel Agent recently chatted with Candis Niles, Anguilla’s director of tourism, and learned that longstanding luxury resort, Cap Juluca, still has some work to do before a financial mess that clouded the famed Caribbean resort’s image in late 2011 is erased for good.
But as far as the legendary resort's aesthetics go, Cap Juluca has never looked better. Cap Juluca reopened under the original ownership of Charles and Linda Hickox on November 15, 2012. Since taking the property back over, the Hickox have invested nearly $12 million into property upgrades with more improvements planned for the future.
But Niles told Travel Agent during a telephone interview that there “are still some legal matters that need to be taken care but the property is open and they have been receiving guests.”
Until the legal issues are resolved, one of the share holder's involved has removed his 30 villas from the total 97, Niles says. This means that more than a third of Cap Juluca’s total inventory is still unavailable to book for clients. However, resort representatives told us that the 67 villas that are available have all been upgraded. Each of the resort’s repainted guestrooms sports clean lines and vibrant hints of color, outfitted with new room amenities, furniture, linens and other decorative accents.
A highlight of the redo is the new Jonquil Suite – a 3,290-square-foot villa featuring two master bedrooms, a sitting room, full-service kitchen, an oceanfront dining terrace, a Jacuzzi and a private, freshwater infinity pool. Spice Lounge is a new exotic Arabesque-style waterfront bar featuring live music, dancing and a global tapas menu. Maundays Bar has been updated with distinctive rattan furniture, dark woods and dramatic lighting. Blue is an open-air beachfront restaurant has been refreshed in an elegant yet casual style against a bright white and pale azure backdrop – accented with pale blue chairs and tables and bright raspberry, lime and orange pillows.
In November of 2011, it was reported that Cap Juluca was facing auction of some of its assets. According to that report, the owner of the property, Adam Aron, had reportedly failed on his payment to the previous owner Charles Hickox at the end of July and still owed some $67 million.
Meanwhile, Cap Juluca is still searching for a new general manager to replace Gary Thulander, Niles says. Resort representatives told us that an ownership representative is on-site to oversee the day-to-day activities of the resort until a new general manager is in place. Ownership is currently interviewing potential candidates and is working on naming a new general manager in the near future.
Visit www.capjuluca.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for updates on this story.