Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort is celebrating its fourth successful year in a row with a steady history of double-digit growth since reopening under the management and direction of efm Hospitality Solutions in 2011. efm uses marketing to propel the brand and generate business and the steady growth that has punctuated the success of the resort over the past four years.
The T&T government contracted efm Hospitality Solutions in June 2011 to renovate, refurbish, reposition, reopen and manage the resort that had originally been operated as a Hilton, but had been closed for several years.
The initial scope of work was to completely refurbish the resort to be ready to receive guests and to provide 4-star international quality service within 120 days. efm Hospitality Solutions was successful in meeting the extremely tight timeline to complete the hotel refurbishment on time and within budget.
“We bring a total commitment to success using our experience coupled with practical knowledge," said Nikolas Eastwick-Field, principal, efm Hospitality Solutions, the operator and manager of Magdalena Grand, adding: “And we live by our slogan that the difference is in the delivery.”
Creating business where none existed before such as golf charters from Scandinavia and accolades from Trip Advisor as well as three golf awards in 2014 are just some of the indications of the underlying success of the resort.
Just recently, the sales and marketing team met with 48 companies among the elite tour operators and wholesalers from around the world at the annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace held this year in Puerto Rico. Interest in sending visitors came from companies based in the USA, Canada, UK, Russia, Brazil, Portugal, Germany and many others. Renewed interest in bringing passengers back to Tobago came from both British Airways and Virgin Holidays which is another indication of a trend in the growth of the mid-range business.
This came shortly after a successful trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil together with officials from Tobago’s Division of Tourism and Transportation to solicit business from the major tour operators and Scuba Dive wholesalers in South America in support of the new weekly air service from Sao Paulo to Tobago that commenced on January 31.
Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort has been recently honoured with the Tobago Chief Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Sphere of Tourism, which was given by Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London. Magdalena Grand was recognized for the resort's significant contributions to the growth of tourism in Tobago.
“We are extremely proud of this achievement and recognition by Chief Secretary London for our efforts in growing Tobago’s tourism industry,” said Eastwick-Field. “Our dedicated management team and hotel staff work towards raising the bar in hospitality standards in Tobago. They, together with our support personnel working overseas, work tirelessly to promote Magdalena Grand and our beautiful island of Tobago,” he added.
Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort has also been named T&T’s Best Golf Hotel at the inaugural World Golf Awards held recently in Portugal. The World Golf Awards serve to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Magdalena Grand manages the 18-hole Championship Tobago Plantations Golf Course, which is located on the resort’s grounds.
efm Hospitality Solutions is led by Nikolas Eastwick-Field, who brings more than 40 years of international hospitality experience, and John Murphy, specializing in product positioning and team building. Both of these hospitality industry veterans acquired high-profile, international experience with Renaissance and Marriott hotels.
