March 12, 2009

I read this morning that Howard Hulford founder of the fabulous Curtain Bluff resort in Antigua died this week. I had only met Howard once but he was a first class guy who was justifiably proud of what he had built in Antigua. He spent a great deal of time showing me around the hotel, with special emphasis on his wine cellar the day I met him. Later that evening he was something to see, Howard holding court around the Curtain Bluff bar. Lot's of guests stopping by to shake his hand and say hello. Most of these guests had been to CB many times --Howard had built his business on repeat customers. He was clearly in his glory.

It's always sad when someone passes, but I am especially touched by losing Howard Hulford because he was part of an era that we seem to be losing. Howard was an old school owner operator. The kind of hotelier that the Caribbean --and some other parts of the world too-- was once famous for. Howard was one of those people who had a vision, and were willing to battle the difficulties of remote location, difficult business environment, a shortage of trained workers and a million other obstacles to build and share that vision. These days its more common to have a major corporation backed by investors bring a tried-and-true formula to yet another island destination. Not a bad formula, just different. And I have so much respect for the individuals who did it the old way.

Although my wine cellar is much less extensive than Curtain Bluff's (think a few bottles on the pantry floor), I promise to raise my glass tonight and toast Howard and the special place hotel owner-operators have in my heart. Cheers.