Elite Island Resorts, an all-inclusive travel company representing nine hotels in Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, the Grenadines and Panama, announces that as of September 1, 2021, all guests over the age of 12 will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival.
Noting a duty “to protect the health and safety of our guests and our employees,” as well as “a commitment to our communities and the destinations in which we operate,” Elite Island Resorts Founder and CEO Robert A. Barrett said in a statement provided to Travel Agent, “Current science tells us that if you’re vaccinated, you are less likely to become seriously ill, or end up taking up a hospital bed in a fragile medical environment, such as the Caribbean, where local resources cannot afford to be overburdened. It’s imperative for us to protect the hospitals of these smaller island nations, and while they have had a good track record so far with COVID-19, we must remain vigilant, and all do our part to become part of the solution.”
He continued: “While we understand that news of our vaccine mandate may be disappointing to select travelers, it will be uplifting and encouraging to others. Travel breeds tolerance and with this decision, we don’t seek to divide, because as hoteliers, we bring cultures and people together. Yet, in today’s world, we must consider so many more variables to do that, all while respecting the integrity of these beautiful islands and the people who work in them. After weighing all the choices, issues, and concerns, mandating vaccines was the wisest option in protecting the critical tourism industry of these beloved destinations, which are so crucial to the survival of so many employees, and the only way we will be able to keep travel and tourism going strong throughout the fall and winter. People rely on us for work—to support their families and their livelihood—so in making this choice, we work for them, too.”
In Antigua, Elite Island Resorts represents Hammock Cove, Galley Bay Resort & Spa, St James’s Club & Villas, Pineapple Beach Club and The Verandah Resort & Spa. It also represents The Club Barbados Resort & Spa, St. James’s Club Morgan Bay in St. Lucia, Palm Island – The Grenadines, and Panama’s Los Establos Boutique Inn.
Visit www.eliteislandresorts.com.
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