New York, New York, July 15, 2024 – Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands is on schedule to unveil its reimagined, luxury private island hideaway this fall. In preparation, the resort is pleased to introduce its Leadership Team overseeing the much-anticipated relaunch of this treasured Caribbean classic that has been undergoing its transformed to a new level of luxury for the past six years.
General Manager, Carrie Bligh
A seasoned hotel and real estate professional, Bligh saw the opportunity to oversee the relaunch of Peter Island Resort as the ultimate dream job. Prior to her post as General Manager of Peter Island Resort, she was in Hawai’i on island of Kaua’i as the Operations Director overseeing the development and opening of Hōkūala Kaua’i, a Timbers luxury resort and residential community. Before Hawai’i, she was in Florida, first as the General Manager of Timbers Jupiter managing operations and the property’s luxury residential club, and then as Timbers Resort’s corporate Director of Operations. Committed to sustainability, Bligh is passionate about marine and coastline preservation. Just some of her many goals in her new role include developing initiatives to protect local marine life, preserve BVI coastlines and identify ways to support local communities.
Executive Chef, Frank Sham
As Executive Chef, Frank Sham oversees all of Peter Island Resort’s culinary offerings including The Drake Steakhouse, the resort’s fine dining restaurant, the Yacht Club’s Drunken Pelican, The Spa and meetings & events for the Conference Center. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver, Chef Sham studied classic French cooking under two Olympic gold medal Chefs and honed his international cuisine skills working for establishments including the Marco Polo Shenzhen Hotel in China, Relais & Chateaux’s Wedgewood Hotel Vancouver and Sandals’ Beaches and Couples resorts in Antigua, Jamaica, St. Lucia and the Turks & Caicos. In 2014, he was a contestant on “Chopped Canada”. Chef Sham is enjoying getting to know BVI purveyors to secure fresh, top-quality local ingredients.
Spa Director, Ana Magno
Ana Magno brings almost 20 years of experience and a passion for spa and wellness to her role overseeing Peter Island Resort’s stunning 10,000-square-foot oceanside spa. Over the course of her career, Magno spearheaded grand openings and relaunches for a number of top resort spas including the Four Seasons Punta Mita, Rosewood Mayakoba, The Nautilus Resort’s Spa in the Maldives, and most recently Rosewood Little Dix Bay’s Sense Spa on Virgin Gorda. As the Spa Director for Peter Island Resort, Ana envisions creating an oceanside sanctuary where guests can decompress, rejuvenate and reconnect with a high-touch, luxury service and customized treatments using top-of-the-line spa and beauty products as well as locally sourced ingredients.
Director of Food & Beverage, Marco Battisti
A native of Rome, Italy, Marco Battisti’s passions for dramatic presentation, design and the culinary arts inspired him to pursue a career in food & beverage hospitality. Battisti’s career began with Princess Cruise Lines, followed by posts in Dubai as Food & Beverage Director for the Atlantis Palm and Managing Director for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts’ Pragma Group, a Roberto Cavalli Brand. After Dubai, Battisti served as F&B Director and Vice President of Lifestyle for Sandals Resorts Antigua & Barbuda based in Miami and Managing Director of F&B and Lifestyle at Mamma’s Kitchen LTD, a restaurant chain in London. He is excited to share his experience and international connections to develop creative, engaging F&B offerings and entertainment that will make Peter Island a must-visit destination for BVI visitors and locals alike.
Marina Manager, Devorn Barker
For Devorn Barker, his appointment as Marina Manager for one of the Caribbean’s top luxury private island resorts was a dream-come-true. His expertise and love of boating developed naturally growing up in the British Virgin Islands, a destination renowned as the sailing capital of the Caribbean. Previously the Marina Manager at Scrub Island Resort, Barker now oversees Peter Island Resort’s marina which was expanded to accommodate a variety of vessels including superyachts of up to 200 feet. The marina is part of the new Peter Island Yacht Club facility featuring an expansive recreational area with pickleball, basketball and bocce ball courts, swimming pool, Drunken Pelican restaurant and bar, a commissary, gift shop and moorings surrounding the island.
