LOCKDOWN LEADER: Windjammer LANDING VILLA BEACH RESORT

There may be trouble in paradise (aka St. Lucia in the Caribbean), but several hotels and restaurants are pulling together to help St Lucians through the global pandemic. Among them is the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort. Situated on a hillside along the Caribbean Sea, amid 60 acres of Saint Lucia’s northwest coast in Labrelotte Bay, this gorgeous island resort is more commonly home to delighted families, honeymooners and couples taking advantage of its secluded villas, sparkling swimming pools and luxury spas. Now, of course, it’s closed for business. And yet like many hotels around the world, it’s doing it’s playing its part in the war against the virus.

Helping the island’s less fortunate, the Windjammer Landing Villa Resort team are collaborating with various partners, including NEMO (National Emergency Management Organization), responsible for having the Nation in a state of preparedness in case of an emergency; and the Saint Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association (SLHTA) in a series of initiatives. This includes donating food to St. Lucia’s tireless police, and making hundreds of hot lunches for underprivileged locals. The food was offered by local farmers, prepared by the Windjammer team and then distributed by volunteers to vulnerable communities. The programmes are to continue for the foreseeable.

Other resorts and organisations on the island contributing to the drive include the Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, the Ladera Resort, Jade Mountain, Marigot Bay Resort, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Green Papaya, June’s Catering and the Rendezvous Resort.

While Windjammer hasn't given an official opening date yet, it is reportedly hoping to re-open its doors from 4th June 2020. It's likely that UK travellers won't be able to go until later in the year. “Let us show St Lucians what we can do when we come together,” says a SLHTA representative in a Facebook video streaming live from the Windjammer Landing kitchen.

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