Sunil Chatrani named Caribbean’s 2019 Hotelier of the Year

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Sunil Chatrani, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Elegant Hotels Group, has been named the Caribbean’s 2019 Hotelier of the Year.

The Guyanese-born, Barbados-based hotelier received the top honor at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) 37th annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, according to a press release.

Chatrani has worked in hotel operations for more than 20 years and currently presides over Elegant’s operations of seven hotels and resorts in Barbados, including Crystal Cove Hotel, Turtle Beach Resort, Waves Hotel and Spa, The House, Colony Club Hotel, Tamarind and Treasure Beach Hotel, which he joined in 2010.

The group also includes the acclaimed Daphne’s Restaurant on Barbados’ west coast, sister eatery to Daphne’s Restaurant in London.

“It is very overwhelming. The truth is all of us in the industry work very hard on a daily basis and so many other hoteliers are deserving of this,” Chatrani said, thanking the team at Elegant Hotels and his family for their support.

According to a press release, Chatrani’s winning developmental strategy that promotes continuous investment and improvement, and builds the profitability of each property with a focused three-step program; refurbish, re-position and re-price.

In addition to a day-to-day maintenance and regular refurbishment, Chatrani also manages a central fund for financing larger projects each year.

He believes that this, as well as the group’s outstanding training and service programs, generates tangible improvements in the guest experience at the Elegant Hotels Group properties, the press release adds.

“Sunil is a true Caribbean success story. His professional accomplishments have been outstanding, and his commitment to staff and community development is nothing short of exemplary,” Frank Comito, CHTA’s CEO and Director General, said.

Chatrani was Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association from 2014 to 2016 and is currently Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) and the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA).