BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HIS attention to detail, excellent tours and impeccable customer service has resulted in Roosevelt Taylor, owner and operator of Island Paradise Tours, being bestowed, for the third time in a row, a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor.
He was given similar awards in 2012 and 2013 and because of his consistency, the number one travel review site has given the award yet again.
Taylor, who was born at Downing Street, Sandy Point, but who spent most of his life in the United States of America, migrated back to St. Kitts some 11 years ago, shortly after which he opened tour operator business.
While speaking with SKNVibes, the US Army Veteran explained that his passion for what he does fuels his drive for excellence.
Having travelled the world during his service with the US Army, and having achieved a number of degrees and certificates, Taylor expressed that his experience is one of the contributing factors to his success and his love of interacting with people of various cultures and countries is one of his motivators.
Taylor admits that he takes his job very seriously and indicated that because tour operators are on the frontline, they are the first individuals tourist interact with when they visit the island and they are the last they. And the impression that they get must be both positive and lasting.
“That’s why I enjoy doing what I do because I get a chance to interact with people from all over the world. St. Kitts is quite quiet to where I lived before. We as tour operators are ambassadors for our country. We are the first people the tourists meet and the last they interact with before they leave so it is very important that we as tour operators do a good job.”
His is not the ordinary, run-of-the-mill tour especially since Taylor has a habit of injecting bits of humour, culture and even information about the island’s exotic greenery as topics of interest.
One review of Island Paradise Tours posted on Trip Advisory explains, “On our honeymoon, my husband and I were grateful that we booked our St Kitts excursion with Island Paradise Tours, and even happier that Rosevelt was our personal guide and driver! We felt at ease right away once we boarded our small air conditioned van with only a few other couples. Rosevelt's knowledge of the island, locals, and vegetation was interesting and informative.”
Another expressed, “We visited St. Kitts while on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Roosevelt was a great tour guide he was fun and knew his stuff. He was very accommodating to our large group and worked with us for a customized island tour.”
In an October 24, 2014 review, an individual labelled Island Paradise Tour an “unbeatable island tour” while another named it an “Interesting personalized tour of the island”.
Taylor said he is humbled by and very appreciative of the award and pledged and he advised continue providing excellent service.
Having had to provide tour service for the Director/Principal Project Manager of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and the royal family of Dubai, Taylor advised his fellow tour operators to “always treat people the way you would like to be treated…you never know who you are taking around…”
