As the owner and operator of Caribbean Concierge Services, Tina Westwood has been taking care of Antigua’s discerning luxury yacht owners for years, but her businesses roots stretch all the way back to her teenage years. When she was 19-years-old, a girlfriend asked if she’d like to work on a yacht that was sailing the Atlantic Crossing and the question triggered Westwood’s fearless habit of saying “yes” to things she had never done before. What followed after was an exciting journey featuring a Saudi King, luxury yachts, and island living.
After her initial six months sailing experience, Westwood assumed the Lead Stewardess role on a subsequent trip aboard a yacht heading to Athens, which then led to a job working on the $100 million, 482-foot yacht of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahad. In 1987, after working on the billionaire’s yacht (which included its own helicopter pad), Westwood knew that it was time for a break, so she flew to the island of Antigua—not before getting a $10,000 tip from Fahad though.
Westwood loved Antigua’s Caribbean vibe, as well as the island’s eclectic mix of ex-pats and natives. The then 27-year old Westwood decided to give island living a try, and opened a bar with a former U.S. Marine.
Raising the Bar in Antigua
G & T’s Bar was a total hit, especially among the yachting community, and selling later it gave Westwood the means to open a second one called Mad Mongoose in 2000.
Over the decade during which she owned this popular tavern neighboring the Antigua Yacht Club, the Welsh-born Westwood employed 20 people and gave birth to a baby girl. Displaying her trademark work ethic, Westwood was back behind the bar the day after her daughter was born. “It was Race Week here in Antigua. The harbor was jumping and the Mongoose was full,” Westwood says.
In 2006, Westwood sold her second bar and began managing villas on the north side of the harbor. A friend, who was relocating to Rhode Island, suggested that Westwood consider taking over the yacht concierge business that she was selling. Westwood recalled, “With my years of experience working around the yachting industry, she thought I’d have the knack for assisting the needs of yacht owners and captains who passed through Falmouth Harbour.”
Custom Service for Customs
Westwood took over the reins of Caribbean Concierge Services, a shore-based management company that handled everything from customs clearance and boat parts to event planning and private charter flights. They even recommended the best places to buy limes on the island!
“Between my years as a Chief Stewardess and my connections in the Antigua bar industry, I had stitched together quite a business network. I quickly developed a reputation among the yachties as someone who could get the job done,” Westwood says.
Westwood’s previous tenure working on yachts gave her a tremendous insight for not only knowing what motor-yacht and sailboat owners needed, but also for connecting with the crew. “One yacht owner may request that I arrange for a private plane so they can fly to the neighboring island. They may also want me to source day workers to assist their crew for an event they had planned. As for the crew, their needs could be as simple as assisting with directions around Antigua,” she explains.
Learning on the Fly
Over the years, Westwood has learned accounting, second languages, and computer skills on the fly. She attributes most of her entrepreneurial success to her gift of the gab, business contacts that have become lifelong friends, and her tireless work ethic. A typical concierge day for Westwood typically includes arranging for boat clearance through Antigua customs, meeting with a florist to arrange flowers on board, scouring local markets for produce, and assisting with the delivery of boat parts in need of repair.
Affluent luxury yacht owners sometimes have wishes that require a little more finesse and quick thinking than others. For example, during this past Christmas season Westwood received a last-minute call requesting a private plane to St. Barths for New Year’s Eve. She also accommodated an English television actress needing a playmate for her 10-year-old daughter by commissioning her own 13-year-old daughter for the job.
Caribbean Competitive Edge
When asked just what it is that sets her apart from her competition, Westwood's answer is straightforward: “In this business, it’s essential that you answer the phone. That sounds simple enough, but when you receive a call late in the evening it’s not always what you want to do. If you ask the boat captains and owners why they continue to work with me, they’ll tell you that I’m readily available to complete most any task.”
“Tina is the yachties concierge agent who went from running the best bar in Antigua to the best agency. Tina ensures that the yacht captain and crew will have a perfect time in Antigua," says Ian Robertson, a Croatian-based boat captain, on why Westwood is his Antigua “go to” person.
For the Caribbean concierge who is hard-wired for providing exceptional customer service, a captain saying he had a perfect stay in Antigua is as priceless as a $10,000 tip from a Saudi King—well almost.
