Published 1 May 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Covid-19: Prominent hotelier thanks Team Unity Government for keeping all safe
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 30, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The Team Unity Government and Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris have come in for high commendation for the way the country has been kept relatively safe, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, compared to the rest of the world.
“I would like to make a special thank you to the Team Unity Government and the Hon Dr Timothy Harris,” said President of Trans-Americainvest (St. Kitts) Limited, and Royal St. Kitts Hotel, Mr John Zuliani. “If we weren’t all safe here in St. Kitts relatively compared to the rest of the world, I do not think any of us would be doing much of these types of projects.”
Mr Zuliani made the remarks on Friday April 30 on the grounds of Royal St. Kitts Hotel in Frigate Bay at a ceremony held to break ground for the construction of a 10,000 square foot commercial development, Royal Plaza II, that will have four commercial and retail units downstairs, and four executive offices upstairs.
“The fact that the Government has been able to keep us safe, I think it has been a crucial factor in my decision in making to continue to invest in St. Kitts and looking to tourism coming back strong,” said Mr Zuliani. “We know people have a pent-up demand for travel as soon as we can do it with a little bit less concern. So I am very excited for that, thank you very much.”
Turning of the sod was done by Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and Mr John Zuliani. They were later joined by Dr Danielle Zuliani, wife of Mr Zuliani, and her five-month-old son, Archie Zuliani, and Mr Zuliani’s Mother, Dr Ursula Higgins.
“This is going to be an extension to our Royal Plaza I, which is right behind you and if you recall, it was about five years ago (2016) today this July that we were here doing the ground breaking ceremony for Royal Plaza I which turned out to be a huge success, and it became extremely popular with tourists and locals alike,” said Mr Zuliani.
According to Mr Zuliani, on completion on Royal Plaza I, they shifted into the hotel where they developed the first state-of-the-art medical centre to accompany the Royal St. Kitts Hotel operations. They then moved to the Cove Development which he said he fashioned on the Miami style of six units downstairs and six units upstairs. He noted that they will become operational in the next two months.
“And then last month we launched our Villa Project where we have started construction on Villa I and Villa II,” said Mr Zuliani. “They are extremely luxurious high-end villas that are going to allow us try to compete with the Park Hyatt and the Four Seasons, and other five-star products.”
After the ground breaking ceremony, Mr Zuliani conducted a tour of the Royal Villas, where they inspected Villa I and Villa II. Seeing progress of the development first-hand were Prime Minister Harris and members of his entourage who included Ambassador His Excellency Michael Powell, and CEO of St. Kitts and Nevis Citizen by Investment Unit, Mr Les Khan.
“I am very proud of what my team has been able to accomplish,” observed Mr Zuliani. “Without them I wouldn’t be able to focus on new projects like these, so I would like to say a few thank you’s.”
He added: “I would like to thank my team, starting with our General Manager Darren Thompson. I do not think there are many people who have worked more hours than he does. He is always up for unreasonable challenges – my aggressive expectations. So I appreciate that he is never down for a challenge.”
He also thanked Ms Viola Grant who has been a fixture of the company for almost four decades, her son Mr Glen Rogers, who is the Sales Manager for nearly a decade, and Ms Tanisha Mitchem, the Director of Sales. The master of ceremonies was Front Officer Manager, Ms Rohanda Devent.
Turning to his family, he said: “To my beautiful wife (Dr Danielle Zuliani), thank you so much for being so supportive at home. If it wasn’t for you I won’t be able to focus on all of these. And to my mother (Dr Ursula Higgins) for giving me the drive that I think I got when I was young through sports that translated over to development, and of course last but not least, my father Mr Archie Zuliani who I know is looking down on us and is very happy to see us as a family continuing to develop and take the Royal St. Kitts to the future and further.”
