Thinking about taking a trip to the luxurious, charming island of Saint Barthélemy? Some of us students had the opportunity to do so this week. We explored, ate good food and gained an inside view as to what really goes on there.
The heart of St. Barths
Saint Barthélemy, also known as St. Barths is a small quaint island located southeast of Saint Maarten. You can find high-end shops, glamorous dining and stunning views of both beaches and mountains.
According to an article from worldatlas.com, “The island’s economy is based on tourism and it has been estimated that more than 200,000 tourists visit the island annually. The island serves as a favorite tourist destination for various celebrities and other wealthy people mainly during New Year’s Eve.”
It’s pretty clear that St. Barths core consumer audience are those a part of the upper class. But lucky for all of us, there’s something for everyone there!
The power of strong brand identity
When it comes to comparing St. Barths to the other islands around us, they have taken the cake for most consistent brand awareness, brand messaging, customer service and in-store experiences.
Like I mentioned before, there are a lot of high-end stores located in St. Barths. You can shop at some of your favorite designer stores like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, the list goes on.
Although the main language on the island is French, almost all store associates spoke fluent English and were able to help us with any questions we had. They provided water and complimentary beverages for us, walked us around the stores and explained collections unique to their designers, and overall provided great service to anyone who walked in.
St. Barths also provides consistent brand messaging through public relations, marketing and advertising tactics. This has provided them with a strong brand identity. Having a strong brand identity provides consumers with a better idea of what they are going to get when they arrive on the island. On top of that, it gives them trust in the island.
The island provides their audience with unique customer experiences without expecting return on PR. This is their earned media. With so many tourists visiting the island a year and the growth of the digital age, people are posting what they’re doing on the island all over social media, ultimately giving them more exposure to the rest of the world.
Savoring Siesta
In my personal experience with traveling to the island, we overall had a great experience. We visited one of the most well known restaurants on the island, Shellona. Situated on Shell Beach, this restaurant was tucked away and the perfect spot to spend “Siesta” on the island. Everyday from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. almost every store on the island closes, so if you plan to travel there for the day, be prepared for what you want to do during that time! Spending it at Shellona was the best thing we could have done. We ate good food, listened to the waves roll in, and met people from all over traveling and living on the island.
Whether you’re 20 years old, or retired and looking for your next vacation spot, St. Barths has something for you! Book your ticket and explore all that it has to offer. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Until next time,
Jillian Middleton
Hozzászólások