With the exception of a few islands where no such service exists, it is a stipulation of EU/UK law that tour operators provide you with the services of a local representative during your Caribbean stay. These services will include:
Meet & Greet: Meeting you at the airport, arranging your transfer to and from your accommodation.
Problem Solving: dealing with any queries or complaints about your holiday - they will liaise with the tour operator and accommodation provider on your behalf.
24-hour emergency cover: This is a very important role because the best ground handlers are extremely well connected and are great fixers so it is worth making friends with them in case difficulties arise! For medical emergencies, they will liaise with your tour operator and accommodation provider, the hospital(s), your insurers and airlines.
In many cases local representatives will hold a 'clinic' in your hotel once a week. If you are staying in a villa, they will come and visit you once weekly if you wish, but if you don’t want the intrusion, they are at the end of the telephone during office hours, and provide emergency cover 24 hours a day.
Wedding and Events Planning
Our selected local representatives have all the contacts to help with a special event, anything from a simple wedding on the beach to a company gathering for 500.
In the case of a wedding, the representative will work directly with you, or with your tour operator if you have one, and liaise with the local authorities, making sure that the documentation for your wedding is in order and everything runs smoothly. They will book a Registrar or Minister (vicar) and provide witnesses if you need them, arrange a place for the bride to get ready, book the venue for the reception, order flowers, a cake, calypso band and anything else you need - even a gospel choir!
If it’s another sort of celebration you want – anything from an anniversary dinner in an exotic location to a sunset cookout on the beach -- then your local organiser / concierge will have the contacts and would be happy to arrange it for you. Or if you want to take members of your company to the Caribbean for a work retreat, then they will look after everyone as a group.
© Definitive World Guides Limited
