Olympus Ventures, the family office of Richard M. Schulze, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy and one of the world’s foremost entrepreneurs, has acquired ownership of The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt, which encompasses CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and The Reef by CuisinArt. The property is being managed by Wischermann Lifestyle Hospitality. Set on the pristine Rendezvous Beach in Anguilla, the vision for the future of the resort and residences will elevate the property and introduce an array of world-class amenities and experiences, along with initiatives that enhance the community, benefitting guests, staff members and island residents.
The first phase of the innovations and enhancements currently underway includes a renewed and expanded 16,000 square foot Hydroponic Farm, featuring a variety of nutrient-rich grown vegetables which will provide the resort and guests with access to fresh vegetables, herbs and produce throughout the year. The new Hydroponic Farm will also offer educational tours in farm-to-table gardening, complete with a test kitchen hosting cooking classes and demonstrations. A new Solar Array, developed in collaboration with the local utility company, is being installed and will operate in parallel with the utility grid, providing energy for the resorts’ water treatment resources, golf course and lighting infrastructures.
The Solar Array will also be expandable to support future resort development and amenities. Additionally, the Reverse Osmosis Plant is being expanded upon and will have a capacity to produce 1.5 million gallons of irrigation and potable water for daily use. The plant will feature three separate fill stations for local trucks to purchase and bottle water for the island.
The second phase of the enhancements will include a state-of-the-art destination spa and wellness center, and improvements to the golf course to elevate it to one of the best in the world, ultimately culminating in what promises to be the most coveted resort in the Caribbean.
“The acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for the resort,” said Simon A. Fricker, Managing Director for The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt. “We are committed to honoring its legacy while introducing next-level amenities and experiences to the revered property, ushering in a new era and delivering the preeminent luxury travel experience in the destination.”
New Management Team
Newly appointed Managing Director Simon A. Fricker will lead all aspects of the resort operations, associates and day to day management of the property. Mr. Fricker was born and educated in Switzerland with an esteemed career that has spanned three continents including experience leading international luxury brands such as the Peninsula, St. Regis and Mandarin Oriental.
Iain Mossman has been appointed General Manager of Golf Operations. Originally hailing from Scotland, Iain will oversee all aspects of the CuisinArt Golf Club, a Greg Norman Signature Design 18-Hole Championship Course. Prior to joining CuisinArt, Iain was the General Manager of The Old Collier Golf Club in Naples, Florida, an exclusive Top 50 Platinum Golf Club of America, for 14 years. Ian has additionally held roles at the Piping Rock Club in Locust Valley, New York, where he served as the Director of Golf for 11 years, and the Westinghouse Communities, Naples, Florida, where he was the Director of Golf Operations for seven years.
Brett Briseno joins as Director of Sales & Marketing. Bringing a wealth of experience to his new role, Brett will oversee all sales, marketing and reservations departments for the resort as the property prepares to implement enhancements and amenities that will place it in a league of its own within the Caribbean. Brett launched his career in the hospitality space at the Westin City Center in downtown Dallas. He has since gone on to hold positions at W Dallas-Victory, W Minneapolis, The Foshay, Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis, and W Austin. Most recently, Brett served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Commodore Perry Estate, which is part of the Auberge Resorts Collection.
Jolyon Hyne joins as Director of Travel Industry. Jolyon brings a breadth of experience in the luxury travel space to his new role. Jolyon was born in Vermont, grew up in Pennsylvania and has been based in Miami, Florida since 2003. Throughout the course of his career, Jolyon has held positions at esteemed properties including Soho Beach House in Miami Beach, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne & Coconut Grove, and more. Most recently, Jolyon served as the Account Director of Luxury Leisure Sales at The St. Regis Bal Harbour, where he was responsible for driving all leisure accounts within the United States and Asia-Pacific. As Director of Travel Industry for the Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt, Jolyon is charged with overseeing the resort’s relationships with top travel professionals around the globe.