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Anguilla Tourism Launches Visitor Portal

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Anguilla’s Tourism Visitor portal is now live. A dedicated URL has been established for ease of reference.  Visitors can log on directly to one of the two links below.

Guests can visit the information page at:

www.escape.ivisitanguilla.com

Guests can also apply directly at:

www.beatcovid19.ai/apply

Applications for travel from November 1 onwards will start at the end of September 2020.

For information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world. A fantastic culinary scene, a wide variety of quality accommodations at varying price points, a host of attractions and exciting calendar of festivals make Anguilla an alluring and entrancing destination.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?   Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary.

More news about Anguilla

#rebuildingtravel

MEDIA CONTACT: Shellya Rogers-Webster, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anguilla Tourist Board, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI,  E: shellya.webster@atb.ai

International field set for 2019 Anguilla Cup

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The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) is pleased to announce that this year’s  Anguilla Cup promises to be the best ever. Over 128 players have registered for the Grade 3 Tournament, which will once again be hosted at the beautiful Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) from November 2-9, 2019.    

Both the Qualifying Draw, which takes place November 2 – 3, and the Main Draw, scheduled for November 4–9, will be fully subscribed. A truly international event, this year’s players hail from Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Caribbean — Switzerland, USA, China, Jamaica, Slovenia, Argentina, France, Spain, Bermuda, Vietnam , Puerto Rica, Honduras, Japan , Mexico, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Bahamas, South Africa, Lithuania and Germany. 

A highlight of the week is the Kids Clinic conducted by former tennis great Mary Jo Fernandez on Sunday, November 3, from 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM, at the ATA. Mary Joe Fernandez is a former top Women’s Tennis Association Player, who achieved a career high ranking of World #4 on the circuit.  The clinic will be followed by a Q&A with Mary Joe from 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM.

At 4:00 PM, the kids make way for the Men’s Invitational Final, whose participants will be announced shortly. The Honorable Cardigan Connor will do the coin flip with Mary Joe Fernandez, prior to the match taking place. The complete Tournament schedule is posted on the Anguilla Cup website and will be updated in real time. Matches run from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily; however, the tournament finals on Saturday, November 9, will begin at 10:00 AM.

The official tournament hotel is the Anguilla Great House, located just a few kilometers from the Anguilla Tennis Academy in Blowing Point. Special packages are available for both players and spectators, with additional options available at select properties on island, including the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and La Vue Boutique Hotel.

Sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Anguilla National Tennis Association, (ANTA), and the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC), this exciting tournament is part of the Caribbean Cup Tennis Series, organized by Sports Travel Experts, and hosted by the Anguilla Tourist Board, the Department of Sports and the Social Security Board, with a contribution from the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla.

The Caribbean Cup circuit currently includes Anguilla, Jamaica, Cayman, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, the US Virgin Islands, Curacao and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Anguilla will take her turn as the Caribbean’s tennis capital when she welcomes players, coaches and their families from around the globe, to participate in the 2019 Anguilla Cup. 

Please visit the tournament website – anguillacup.com – for registration information and how you can come out and experience a week of spectacular beaches and world-class tennis. For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

For more news about the Anguilla Cup, please click here.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world. Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?   Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary.

About the Anguilla Cup

The Anguilla Cup is a part of the Caribbean Cup Tennis Series, created by Karl Hale – CEO of Sports Travel Experts and Tournament Director of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.  The event is sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Anguilla National Tennis Association (ANTA), and the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC), sponsored by the Anguilla Tourist Board, and hosted at the Anguilla Tennis Academy, with support provided by Anguilla’s Department of Sports in the Ministry of Tourism and the Social Security Board.

About the Caribbean Cup Tennis Series

The CCTS features 10 events in 9 countries throughout the Caribbean. The 2019 Circuit will feature events in Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Vincent. Each event is centered on Local Youth Development, Caribbean Travel and Charity, and each tournament offers participants a chance to challenge top ranked players from around the globe.

Media Contact: Shellya Rogers-Webster, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anguilla Tourist Board, Shellya.Webster@atb.ai

Anguilla scores a three-peat! Voted Best Caribbean Island third year in a row in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2019

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The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) is delighted to announce that for a truly unprecedented third year in a row, Anguilla has been ranked #1 island in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Bahamas in the 2019 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, honoring the top travel destinations and companies around the globe as rated by its readers. The Island was also claimed the #6 position on the Top 15 Best Islands in the World list.

“We are extremely pleased and proud to once again receive this prestigious Award, a wonderful endorsement of our exceptional tourism product,” said the Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary in Anguilla’s Ministry of Tourism. “The credit for this Award goes beyond our tourism stakeholders to all the people of Anguilla, and our longstanding tradition of warm hospitality that brings our visitors back, year after year,” he continued.

“We are thrilled that Anguilla has been voted the #1 Island in the Caribbean for the third year in a row, and the #6 Island in the World, by this discerning group of experienced, global travelers,” said ATB Chairperson, Mrs. Donna Banks. “Over the past two years we have restructured the Anguilla Tourist Board, bringing new talent into the organization, strengthening our marketing department, and expanding our outreach to stakeholders. We are greatly encouraged by this Award, which validates our change in strategy and direction.”

Three Anguilla resorts are featured in the Top 25 Caribbean Resort Hotels category – Frangipani Beach Resort ranked #2; Malliouhana, Auberge Resort Collection ranked #14; and Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa ranked #24. The Frangipani Beach Resort is once again the only property featured in the Top Hotels Overall, ranked #46.

Starting in December 2018, Anguilla has achieved record-breaking tourist arrivals every month through May 2019, the latest month for which visitor arrivals are available. With brand new and newly renovated resorts, a host of new attractions, and a new campaign, “Beyond Extraordinary” that focuses on the Anguilla experience, the island’s tourism industry is on track to realize its best year ever in terms of both arrivals and revenues.

The World’s Best Awards appear in the August 2019 issue of Travel + Leisure, on sale July XX, and online at this link: https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best. A special reception to celebrate the winners will be held on July 16, 2019 at the new Times Square EDITION in New York City.

For more information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and exclusivity. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?

Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Ross, Anguilla Tourist Board, North America, T. 917-858-2411, E. rossa@pmgroup.bz

Visitors showed Anguilla the love this winter

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*Island Enjoys Record-Breaking Winter Season*

Anguilla welcomed guests from around the world this winter, resulting in the island’s best winter season in over 27 years. Guests flocked to Anguilla in record numbers, to bask on the island’s 33 pristine beaches, surrounded by sapphire seas; sample the extraordinary variety of delectable culinary experiences; and enjoy the warm and generous hospitality for which the island is so well known. 

A further indication of the island’s impressive recovery, Anguilla logged yet another record-breaking month in March, with 11,940 tourist stayover arrivals.  This marks not only the highest March in history, but also the highest monthly total in the history of Anguilla’s tourism industry. The figure represents a 29.16% increase over the same period in 2017, and a 22.55% increase over March 2016, the month that until now held the record for the most tourist arrivals.

April continued this winning streak, as the 9,790 arrivals recorded is the largest number of tourist arrivals for any month of April dating back as far as 1993.  The first quarter tourist arrivals, (January to March 2019) at 30,135, was the highest recorded since the Anguilla Tourist Board began tracking arrivals.

During the first four months of the year (January to April 2019), just under 40 thousand guests spent one or more nights on Anguilla. The island has to date attracted almost 50% of the total tourist arrivals for 2016, the island’s best year to date for tourist arrivals.  “Let us celebrate but not become complacent,” said Mrs. Donna Banks, Chairperson of the Anguilla Tourist Board.  “There is still much work to be done; our goal remains a 20% increase in tourist arrivals over 2016.  We appreciate and value the continued support and cooperation of all our stakeholders, and the people of Anguilla, in helping us to achieve these significant milestones for our industry.”

For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial;

Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?   Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Shellya K. Webster, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anguilla Tourist Board, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, E: shellya.webster@atb.ai

Anguilla celebrates June as Spa & Wellness Month with Move Ya Body campaign

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The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) has announced that the entire month of June will be designated as Spa & Wellness Month, where residents and visitors alike will be invited and encouraged to Move Ya Body! 

Throughout the month of June, the activities of the Move Ya Body Campaign and the Anguilla Tourist Board will be merged, to create opportunities for everyone to engage in active and healthy lifestyle choices. This month long promotion of relaxation, health and wellness on Anguilla will feature services, packages and activities that are uniquely Anguillian.

Wellness Tourism, defined by the Global Wellness Institute as “travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal well-being,” is a multi billion dollar industry, and growing steadily across both developed and emerging markets.

“Wellness is one of the strongest global travel trends, and it is one that is ideally suited to Anguilla,” said Parliamentary Secretary Cardigan Connor. “In addition to our excellent resorts and magnificent spas, we have a host of talented wellness consultants — massage therapists, yoga instructors, fitness gurus and nutrition experts — whose expertise is readily available to visitors regardless of where they are staying on island.” 

Employee Afternoon Walks on Tuesdays and Thursdays will form the basis of the workplace wellness programs.  On Thursday, June 6th,  the “Colour Me Happy” Walk  takes place, a fun community walk starting in the West End, with music and cardio stops along the way and at the end of the route.  Participants are encouraged to rock their happy colors – the more outrageous the better, and with accessories — wigs, socks, shades, caps.

An Island Hike and Water Aerobics are additional activities in development, designed to get both Anguillians and visitors moving and embarking on healthier lifestyle habits that will extend beyond the month of June. 

A special Beach Yoga class on Saturday, June 22nd will be open to everyone to attend; on the following Saturday, June 29th, a dynamic Jam Fitness event will be held on the ATB Lawn. Anguilla’s most popular fitness instructors will lead the classes accompanied by live music performed by the island’s most popular artistes.

Resort and restaurant stakeholders will join in the campaign by offering a wide selection of delectable and healthy culinary fare, with special menus and drinks throughout the month of June. A variety of Spa and Wellness Packages will also be on offer by participating resorts, in partnership with instructors, gyms and other health and wellness enthusiasts on the island, and made available to visitors and residents.  

For more information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Shellya K. Webster, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anguilla Tourist Board, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, E: shellya.webster@atb.ai

Dame Alice Walker will headline Anguilla Lit Fest 2019

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The Anguilla Tourist Board is pleased to announce an impressive line-up of international artists scheduled to appear at the 8th annual Anguilla Lit Fest, taking place May 16 to 19 at Paradise Cove Resort, Anguilla. Hosted by the Anguilla Literary Foundation under the theme Books, Beaches & A Better You, this Literary Jollification promises to inspire, educate, motivate and uplift audiences with its unique mix of readings, workshops and cultural performances, set against the backdrop of Anguilla’s spectacular beaches.

In her first appearance at Lit Fest, legendary novelist, essayist, poet and activist, Dame Alice Walker will explore the themes of feminism, sexuality, identity and spirituality in her prolific writing and lived experience. Dame Alice is best known for her Pulitzer Winning novel, The Colour Purple (1982), the critically acclaimed Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992), and most recently a bilingual English/Spanish anthology of poetry Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart (2018).

Dynamic author/poet Jason Reynolds will also be featured in the 2-day literary limelight.  Reynolds enjoys a special appeal for those in their teens and twenties as well as for the young at heart.  His first book of prose, When I Was The Greatest (2014) won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent, and most recently his acclaim skyrocketed with his New York Times best-selling Track series, Ghost (2016), Patina (2017) and Sunny (2018).

This year, the Anguilla Lit Fest also welcomes an inspiring cornucopia of Social Media Influencers and Speakers, including husband and wife team Tony A Junior and Sheri Gaskins, who will present Make it Work, 22 Time Tested Real Life Lessons for Sustaining a Happy Healthy Relationship (2019).  Tony is a highly regarded life coach, author and motivational speaker who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and TBN’s 700 Club. The distinguished roster includes Glory Edim, a literary advocate and founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a book club and online community that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood, and whose first anthology, Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, was published by Random House in 2018; Denene Millner co-writer with Steve Harvey of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and Around the Way Girl, a memoir with actress Taraji P. Henson and founder of MyBrownBaby.com, and Editor of Denene Millner Books; novelist and motivational speaker, Sadeqa Johnson, who worked with JK Rowling and Bishop TD Jakes before becoming an author of novels such as And Then There Was Me (2017); and Journalist/Blogger Sarah Greaves Gabbadon, better known as JetSetSarah, whose captivating posts on Caribbean destinations, food and shopping inspire all that ‘follow’ her to follow in her footsteps.

Additional authors include: Patricia Marie “Pat” Cummings, esteemed writer and illustrator of over 30 books for children; Ira Sumner Simmonds, a native of St Kitts who has written From Siberia to St Kitts: A Teacher’s Journey; and Stephanie Stokes Oliver, author, editor and member of the Anguilla Literary Foundation, introducing her critically acclaimed anthology Black Ink, and notables from the publishing world such as Dawn Davis Publisher and Vice President of 37 INK, and Yona Des Hommes Associate Director of Publicity for Atria Books.

“We are intent on showcasing the richness and diversity of the Anguilla experience,” said Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism. “Anguilla LitFest is a perfect example of the depth and sophistication of our product, and the lure that Anguilla presents to leading literary icons. I congratulate the members of the Anguilla Literary Foundation on what promises to be their best event ever, and look forward to another amazing event,” he concluded.

The 2019 Anguilla Litfest: A Literary Jollification is an unrivalled opportunity for meeting authors, attending book signings and writing workshops.  Special vacation packages for the event will be offered by a number of Anguilla’s leading properties, including the host venue, Paradise Cove Resort, and sponsor hotel, The Reef by CuisinArt.

For more information on the Anguilla Lit Fest 2019 or to register for this year’s event, go to www.anguillalitfest.com, email info@anguillalitfest.com, or follow the Anguilla Litfest on Facebook or Instagram.   For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?   Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Dame Alice Walker will headline Anguilla Lit Fest 2019

by

The Anguilla Tourist Board is pleased to announce an impressive line-up of international artists scheduled to appear at the 8th annual Anguilla Lit Fest, taking place May 16 to 19 at Paradise Cove Resort, Anguilla. Hosted by the Anguilla Literary Foundation under the theme Books, Beaches & A Better You, this Literary Jollification promises to inspire, educate, motivate and uplift audiences with its unique mix of readings, workshops and cultural performances, set against the backdrop of Anguilla’s spectacular beaches.

In her first appearance at Lit Fest, legendary novelist, essayist, poet and activist, Dame Alice Walker will explore the themes of feminism, sexuality, identity and spirituality in her prolific writing and lived experience. Dame Alice is best known for her Pulitzer Winning novel, The Colour Purple (1982), the critically acclaimed Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992), and most recently a bilingual English/Spanish anthology of poetry Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart (2018).

Dynamic author/poet Jason Reynolds will also be featured in the 2-day literary limelight.  Reynolds enjoys a special appeal for those in their teens and twenties as well as for the young at heart.  His first book of prose, When I Was The Greatest (2014) won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent, and most recently his acclaim skyrocketed with his New York Times best-selling Track series, Ghost (2016), Patina (2017) and Sunny (2018).

This year, the Anguilla Lit Fest also welcomes an inspiring cornucopia of Social Media Influencers and Speakers, including husband and wife team Tony A Junior and Sheri Gaskins, who will present Make it Work, 22 Time Tested Real Life Lessons for Sustaining a Happy Healthy Relationship (2019).  Tony is a highly regarded life coach, author and motivational speaker who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and TBN’s 700 Club. The distinguished roster includes Glory Edim, a literary advocate and founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a book club and online community that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood, and whose first anthology, Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, was published by Random House in 2018; Denene Millner co-writer with Steve Harvey of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and Around the Way Girl, a memoir with actress Taraji P. Henson and founder of MyBrownBaby.com, and Editor of Denene Millner Books; novelist and motivational speaker, Sadeqa Johnson, who worked with JK Rowling and Bishop TD Jakes before becoming an author of novels such as And Then There Was Me (2017); and Journalist/Blogger Sarah Greaves Gabbadon, better known as JetSetSarah, whose captivating posts on Caribbean destinations, food and shopping inspire all that ‘follow’ her to follow in her footsteps.

Additional authors include: Patricia Marie “Pat” Cummings, esteemed writer and illustrator of over 30 books for children; Ira Sumner Simmonds, a native of St Kitts who has written From Siberia to St Kitts: A Teacher’s Journey; and Stephanie Stokes Oliver, author, editor and member of the Anguilla Literary Foundation, introducing her critically acclaimed anthology Black Ink, and notables from the publishing world such as Dawn Davis Publisher and Vice President of 37 INK, and Yona Des Hommes Associate Director of Publicity for Atria Books.

“We are intent on showcasing the richness and diversity of the Anguilla experience,” said Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism. “Anguilla LitFest is a perfect example of the depth and sophistication of our product, and the lure that Anguilla presents to leading literary icons. I congratulate the members of the Anguilla Literary Foundation on what promises to be their best event ever, and look forward to another amazing event,” he concluded.  

The 2019 Anguilla Litfest: A Literary Jollification is an unrivalled opportunity for meeting authors, attending book signings and writing workshops.  Special vacation packages for the event will be offered by a number of Anguilla’s leading properties, including the host venue, Paradise Cove Resort, and sponsor hotel, The Reef by CuisinArt.

For more information on the Anguilla Lit Fest 2019 or to register for this year’s event, go to www.anguillalitfest.com, email info@anguillalitfest.com, or follow the Anguilla Litfest on Facebook or Instagram.   For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?   Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Ross, Anguilla Tourist Board, North America, T. 917-858-2411, E. rossa@pmgroup.bz

Anguilla’s beloved Moonsplash Music Festival returns this March

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Anguilla’s iconic Moonsplash Music Festival will once again take place under a full moon at the legendary Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay, from March 21 – 24, 2019.

Music lovers and Anguilla fans were devastated last year, when for the first time in its 27 year history, Moonsplash producer and creator Bankie Banx suspended the event, as repairs to the venue were still underway. Some of the biggest names in reggae music have graced the Moonsplash stage — Steel Pulse, Jah Cure, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, Marcia Griffiths, Bunny Wailer, Inner Circle – just to name a few. So have popular music artists like Jimmy Buffet and John Mayer, and award winning rappers Nas and Q-Tip. It is a magical experience, on an extraordinary island.

This year’s Moonsplash returns to its roots as the Coolest Beach Party in the Caribbean. Timed to coincide with the first full moon of the month, the magical evenings unfold at the rustic Dune Preserve, Bankie’s legendary retreat, that doubles as laid back beach bar by day and pulsating dance party each evening. The newly renovated beach bar now accommodates 500 persons on decks and another 500 under a temporary beach extension.

Highlights of this year’s Festival are two, not to be missed celebrations — Sheriff Bob’s 80th Birthday Bash and Third World and Friends 40th Anniversary celebration.  Robert Saidenberg, The Sheriff of Goodtimes (aka Sheriff Bob) met Bankie Banx in the late 80s at a recording studio in New York City. Bankie invited Sheriff down to Anguilla and that summer they started planning the first Moonsplash.  This is a very special year for The Sheriff of Goodtimes as he’ll be celebrating his 80th Birthday at Moonsplash 2019. He was also the subject of the 2018 award-winning short documentary film, The Sheriff of Goodtimes, which won Best Short Documentary at the Big Apple Film Festival.

Third World, the ‘Reggae Ambassadors’, is one of the longest lived Reggae bands of all time, and the world’s greatest reggae fusion band, mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, rock, dancehall and rap. With 10 Grammy nominations and catalogue of charted hits spanning four decades, Third World will be releasing a new studio album in Spring 2019, produced by 4-time Grammy winner, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, the youngest son of the legendary Bob Marley, under the Ghetto Youth International imprint. The lead single “Loving You Is Easy” was released late 2018.

Moonsplash kicks off at 6:30PM on Friday, March 22nd with Funky Horns SXM on the Beach Stage, along with other supporting acts.  Headliners on the Main Stage later that evening are Anguilla’s own Omari Banks and the legendary Mighty Diamonds, with additional supporting acts to be announced. Omari’s international musical career has taken him on tour to North America, Europe and Asia, and his recently released single “Me and You” was produced by multi-platinum, multi-Grammy nominee Jason “J Vibes” Farmer. Tabby, Bunny and Judge have produced over forty albums in their long and storied career.

On Saturday, March 23rd, starting from 6:30PM on the Beach Stage, festival fans will be treated to the Sheriff’s 80th Birthday Bash featuring Orange Grove, the popular Sint Maarten band whose infectious sound echoes traces of rock, hip-hop and reggae, and Sheriff and the Deputy, featuring Kat Minogue and Captain Bob.

Sheriff and The Deputy play traditional Folk, Rock, and Country music – the band enjoyed 9 months of performances at Opry City Stage, the NYC branch of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry.

The Third World and Friends 40th Anniversary Celebration takes the Main Stage later that evening, along with the Festival’s own impresario, the incomparable Bankie Banx, and the versatile True intentions, a reggae band that originated in Anguilla with roots in Dominica, who has rocked the local and regional music scene. A surprise guest will complete Saturday’s fantastic line up.

On Sunday, March 24th, the Moonsplash Beach party commences at 11:30AM with spontaneous appearances by the Bankie Banx Moonsplash cast. A host of fun activities are planned for the day.

Cool vibes, great beaches, thrilling performances, amazing music — what more could you wish for? A Beyond Extraordinary experience awaits you when you join us at Moonsplash in Anguilla next month.

For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.