CPL brings major injection to St. Kitts
The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament has brought a major stimulus to tourist dependant St. Kitts and Nevis.
The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has made a major investment into the popular CPL tournament to the tune of US$4M and it has paid dividends to the economy by taking the country to the eyes of the world, as well as ensuring that many visitors come through the airports and seaports.
Tourist arrivals has increased tremendously over the two week period of the CPL, where a total of 10 matches are being held at the Warner Park cricket facility in down town Basseterre.
One of the top accommodations on the Island, the Ocean Terrace Inn has been one of the popular choices for tourists who have enjoyed the great ambience of this boutique hotel.
Executive Chef, Food and Beverage manager at the hotel Lynn Williams thanks CPL for the matches in the St. Kitts.
"Yes I want to say thanks for the guys having matches here. We have people coming from the Caribbean Islands Antigua, St. Maarten, St Lucia and other Islands close by and I notice this happens around the CPL time.
"The fact that CPL is in this country there are a lot of benefits. For example, you can't pay for that kind of advertisement that the country has gotten. It is priceless to just put the name of the country out there and it comes at a time when the vendors have a slow period with children are out of school. These are slow times for them, so when the cricket is played they can now cash in and get some good business."
Williams added that the world exposure due to television will lead to tangible long term benefits. "The matches are televised all around the world and people would now see St Kitts and Nevis on TV and want to come to these beautiful Islands."
Williams said his hotel has now aligned itself to international standards, one of the legacies of the increased arrivals with the CPL being in St. Kitts. "OTI is a masterpiece of a hotel. I remember the days when we were not like this but this last renovation has done it. It has become a niche, we think more about the guests, it is more about the guest experience than anything else and this is why people have been coming to us. CPL is an international standard and we at OTI are aligning ourselves to that standard.
"We have sponsored some of the commentators and we might be able to host the teams next time around because our standard is very high indeed. OTI is an experience, it not a massive hotel, it is a small Boutique hotel, it is all about the homely atmosphere. you must not miss your home. We have two world class restaurants, the Fisherman Wharf, which is not by the water but on the water and the Verandah - which gives you a view from St. Peters to Nevis. OTI is the best place to stay not only in St. Kitts but in the Caribbean right now."
OTI is a very intimate and private hotel is set amidst tranquil tropical gardens on a magnificent landscaped hillside offering breath-taking views of the city of Basseterre and the Island of Nevis. The OTI is ideally located within walking distance to some of the best shopping and most popular cultural and historical sites on the Island.
What has made the OTI one of the top choices for travelling fans is the fact that it is not far off from the Warner Park Cricket Stadium where all the CPL T20 action has been taking place.