http://lux.acquisition-intl.com/ 40 LUX - Hotel & Spa Awards 2016 Best Luxury Rental Property - St. Lucia The journey from Hewanorra Airport to the Villa C’est la Vie is not one that clients have to make by themselves. “Usually, they will be met by our concierge and accompanied along the 90-minute drive to C’est la Vie. On arrival, they are greeted by the butler and some of the staff and given an introduction to the property” Once they are settled in, guests will find the structure and layout of the accommodation and the lush gardens in which they are set, to be designed to allow them peace and privacy when needed. With its walls coloured in a soft blue, and sloping roofs culminating in precious wooden facades, Villa C’est la Vie was created from a fusion of traditional Caribbean style and Eastern influence. The 700-square foot apartment has its own kitchen, bathroom and living room, while the cottage, a dramatic 1,400 square feet in size, is dubbed the ‘honeymoon suite’; situated across two floors in a separate building, this palatial space also has its own kitchen and living room, while offering honeymooners, as well as couples celebrating anniversaries or vow renewals, a blissful retreat. Best Luxury Rental Property - St. Lucia Villa C’est la Vie has been in operation for six years, and consists of five suites spread over three separate, spacious sections. Boasting a charming dining area and sunroom, together with an upstairs Gallery, the main villa, cottage and apartment are set within an acre of landscaped gardens from which a pathway leads to a calm, secluded cove. C’est la Vie is a home away from home for visitors to the island of Saint Lucia, perched on the edge of civilisation, five minutes’ walk from Windjammer Landing Hotel and ten minutes’ drive from Rodney Bay Village. HO160039 Company: Villa C’est la Vie Email:
[email protected] Phone: (1758) 722 1616 Web Address: www.villacestlavie.com Address: Trouya Pointe, Saint Lucia, West Indies The food, too, combines international flair and fresh island flavours, and is presented to a standard that wouldn’t be out of place at a five-star European hotel. A full, complimentary breakfast is served every morning; a poolside grill is on offer throughout the day, and dinner is available on request. “We prefer that our Guests do not cater for themselves, rather that they totally relax, with the benefit of the privacy and tranquillity offered by the Caribbean climes.” Butler services are available from 6:00 am to midnight, and with a fully-stocked bar and wine cellar. Ultimately, according to Michael and Maria Thom, the mantra of C’est la Vie is the freedom to “live your vacation on a whim. Each day can be prepared for our Guests or they can rise when they wish and do as they please. Our objective is for our Guests to be able to relax and be pampered to whatever extent they wish.” It is hard to imagine that much can compete with this idyllic setup. That said, Michael and Maria Thom do acknowledge that the wider market is changing around them, especially in the advent of new technology and social media outlets. “The self-catering villa sector will be competing with the likes of Airbnb,” they say. “But then, since we are firmly positioned in the luxury market, we will be less affected.” “Since we are not on the beach and cannot change the fabric of the Villa, we have to maximise the Service aspect and the experience. As long as we continue to innovate and watch out for worldwide trends that might affect us, we should be able to adapt to change.” This aligns well with an ever-increasing drive towards luxury and extreme comfort in spectacular villas and locations. There are, of course other factors at play that the tourism industry in Saint Lucia cannot directly influence – currency fluctuations, health and political issues, and the changing taste of the clientele. To the owners of C’est la Vie, however, these potential hurdles are just something to be overcome by constant attention to their Guest’s requirements. “We simply try to be aware of these trends, and to offer our Guests what they are looking for. When possible, we contact them before their arrival to try and help them to plan their vacation. We remain competitive by offering the best possible product and Guest experience.” “We do not claim to be unique, but we always aspire to be the best. We provide a level of service that is not available in any other villa in Saint Lucia, and we are constantly looking for ways to improve. Additionally, our Staff to Guest ratio is higher than most Hotels, enabling us to provide personal attention which is unlikely to be available elsewhere.” Technological advances have also helped the Thoms. “We try to stay up to date with Guests’ expectations for entertainment and technology but, although we have not received any comments suggesting that we are lacking in that area, we are constantly striving to be up to date. We have full Wi-Fi coverage and we keep an extensive database covering every aspect of each Guests stay and their preferences. “Fortunately, people visit us to enjoy the climate and the ambience.” The added bonus of mod-cons is, if anything, a side show compared to the rustic mysticism of this isolated patch of land, perched at the edge of the Caribbean Sea. “C’est la Vie is constantly evolving and looking at new ways to enhance the guest’s experience.”