Hotelier of the Year for 2003

The Gumbs Family, which opened Rendezvous Bay Hotel in 1962 as Anguilla’s first beach resort, were honoured in a special ceremony during the 25th Anniversary Tourism Gala held at LA Café on Friday, November 7th, 2003. Anguilla patriarch, Jeremiah Gumbs and son Allan Gumbs accepted the award on behalf of the Gumbs Family which also includes Allan’s wife Lisa, brothers Duane and Clyde and sister Una. Jeremiah’s wife, Lydia, who passed away in October 2002 and who is largely credited with the idea of opening the resort in the 1950s, was awarded posthumously.
The award was presented by Walter MacCalman, Managing Director and Andrew Niles, Manager of retail banking for Scotiabank Anguilla, sponsors of the Hotelier of the Year Award since the award’s inception in 1996. The more than 160 guests at the 25th Anniversary Tourism Gala gave Jeremiah Gumbs a standing ovation as he accepted the award.

Jeremiah and Lydia Gumbs started building Rendezvous Bay Hotel in 1959. At the time, Anguilla only had one other hotel, Lloyd’s Guesthouse located on Crocus Hill. Bringing in and laying the tile themselves with picks and shovels, and with the help of the island’s first stone crusher, the Gumbs’ opened Rendezvous Bay Hotel with five rooms three years later in 1962.

“My brothers and sister and I have been extremely blessed in life with parents who encouraged us and
taught us so much” Allan Gumbs said “We are very honoured to receive this award and thank everyone for their support.”

In addition to managing one of Anguilla’s most popular hotels, several members of the Gumbs family have been active in the development of Anguilla’s tourism industry over the years. Jeremiah’s pivotal role during the country’s revolutionary years has been well documented. Allan Gumbs was Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board for 5 years from 1995 to 2000 while his mother Lydia Gumbs was the longest serving member of the Board of Directors of the AHTA from 1981 to 1999. Mrs. Gumbs was also actively involved in the Caribbean Hotel Association and represented Anguilla at several regional conferences and meetings.


The “Hotelier of the Year” award, the hospitality industry’s highest honor, recognizes outstanding leadership, service and exemplary professionalism in the lodging industry. This year, in celebration of the silver anniversary of Anguilla’s tourism industry, the selection committee sidestepped the regular voting process to recognize the Gumbs Family for their tremendous contribution to Anguilla’s tourism development over the past 40 years.