Fantastic Resorts… But After 17 Years, We Were Suddenly “Unwelcome”
Firstly, let me say that Elite Island Resorts’ venues across the Caribbean are among the best we’ve ever experienced, and I would recommend them to anyone—but with one major caveat. We have been loyal patrons for over 17 years, visiting most of their resorts: Palm Island – 17 times Club Barbados – twice Galley Bay – twice In total, we’ve spent over £250,000 with their exclusive brand, often bringing friends and family and recommending the resorts to others. Our last visit was in April 2025. From local management to housekeeping, activities, pool staff, bar, and restaurant teams, the service has always been outstanding. The cuisine is exceptional, and the overall experience is truly first-class. That’s why we were stunned when, after trying to book a return visit to Galley Bay in 2026, we received a personal email from the CEO refusing our booking. Even more shocking, he authorised the cancellation of our existing October 2025 reservation at Hammock Cove (Antigua), with no explanation other than a brief message from our booking agent: “I’ve been informed by our CEO that your reservation at Hammock Cove for October should be canceled.” The CEO’s email to us stated, in part: “We strongly believe that our resorts offer guests a wonderful all-inclusive island experience, and the vast majority of our guests have a terrific time with us. That being said, there is no one size fits all when it comes to holiday travel, and no single resort or resort group is perfect for everyone. To that end, we simply feel that our resorts are not the best fit for your future holidays… We wish you the very best with your future travels—even though those travels will not include our resorts.” After nearly two decades of loyalty, this was a complete shock. In my personal opinion, Elite Island Resorts may be engaging in some form of customer profiling—possibly via social media—and if you don’t fit their preferred profile, you could find yourself “uninvited” too. I cannot fault the quality of their resorts—all are truly first-class—but in the words of their own COO: “…those travels will not include our resorts.” Beware—you might be next.
By Brian P.