When Canadian born Paul Doyle first saw the historic Crane Hotel in 1988, it was nothing more than a tired, run-down 18-room property. But, thanks to his astute entrepreneurial instinct, Paul saw way beyond the crumbling façade and recognized a major development ‘waiting to happen’. Suitably motivated and brimming with self-belief, he took the bold step of selling his home in Canada to raise the required deposit, purchased The Crane, then set out to transform his compelling vision into a reality.

Fast forward to 2018, by which time The Crane Resort was widely acknowledged as one of the world’s top, private residence resorts, having attained the highest global ratings for both the RCI and the exclusive Registry Collection’s fractional ownership programmes. In September that year, Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. purchased timeshare inventory at The Crane Resort for an anticipated total transaction value of US$54.6 million. In addition to being a monumental vindication of Paul Doyle’s inspired decision to risk investing his life in a fading brand, the fact that Hilton Grand Vacations chose to invest so heavily in The Crane Resort also represented a very significant vote of confidence in Barbados.

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So, why did Paul Doyle choose Barbados in the first place? And why has his son, John Doyle, made the same decision?

Paul Doyle

In 1988 I was looking to relocate to an international business jurisdiction, so I took a sheet of paper and made a list of about 10 countries, with tick boxes for all the benefits I was looking for. These included the prerequisite business incentives, as well as security, political and social stability, law and order, well-regulated financial system, excellent telecommunications, ease of travel, good healthcare, and so on. At the end of the process Barbados stood out at the top. So, I came here for the first time and immediately felt comfortable and welcome. This country, with its own identity and Caribbean culture, offers a rare combination of first-world civilization with the benefits of living in a beautiful tropical environment, within an integrated society.

It was never my intention to get involved in the hotel sector but, at the suggestion of my Canadian attorney, I went to view The Crane which was quietly for sale. Everything just felt right. Such a stunning clifftop location, magnificent beach, incredible blue ocean, fresh sea breeze – beautiful, peaceful and close to nature. Even though the price was attractive, it was still a lot of money for me. But it had to be done. Four months later I relocated to Barbados, and it’s been my home ever since. Fortunately, my plans have for the most part all worked out well. Sound government management and a sophisticated business infrastructure have provided a solid platform to build and expand our operations. Thankfully, I now have my son John working alongside me as our Director of Business Development.

While I have loved making Barbados my home, I never tried to influence where John would choose to live and build his career. He had his own decisions to make.

John Doyle

My big decision moment came in 2011 when I graduated from business school in Canada. Most of my friends were lined up for lucrative positions with top companies in Toronto and other financial centres around the world. Having been offered some exciting opportunities myself, a part of me was tempted to go down that route with them – but the lure of Barbados was stronger. Growing up in Barbados, I had enjoyed a very happy, activity-filled, outdoors-oriented ‘island-style’ childhood. Even when I went to high-school and university in Canada, every single vacation, I’d be on the earliest available flight back home.

When people think of Barbados, they often picture a place of relaxation and a laid-back lifestyle, not necessarily somewhere to build a serious career. But for me, it’s been both.

Choosing to develop my career within the family business in Barbados rather than pursue professional growth in the traditional corporate world abroad felt like choosing lifestyle over professional opportunity at the time. But what I found was quite the opposite — Barbados has offered far greater professional growth and business opportunity than I might have found elsewhere. It also gave me the rare chance to learn directly from my father, an entrepreneur whose vision and discipline helped shape my own approach to business.

Fifteen years on, that decision has proven strategically sound. The island remains rich with potential, with ample scope to scale our business and foster entrepreneurial ambition in ways the corporate world rarely allows. It is now much easier to get things done than when I first joined the company, and our growth trajectory is better than I once expected. Which is why we have invested in more land along the St. Philip coastline, ready for future development.

There are new expectations and greater confidence amongst investors and developers, and I see Barbados getting even better. The country is attracting increasing numbers of entrepreneurs and highly accomplished talent in all sectors – internationally experienced people who view Barbados as a bona fide opportunity to settle, enjoy a good life and operate their business. Barbados is developing into a cosmopolitan community despite its modest size.

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Even when I see how well some of my friends have done in Canada, there’s no question that Barbados is the best place for me. With a healthy attitude towards work-life balance, Bajans place great value on their leisure time, even at times to the detriment of their financial status. But it works. Here it is possible to succeed in business, while still enjoying life to the full – all of which adds up to improved health and wellbeing. I love the fact that I can finish a day’s work at 5:00 pm and still take my son to the beach for an hour’s quality time together.

Barbados is a great place to raise kids, with a wide variety of screen-free, cost-free entertainment options. The education system is strong at all levels, including several private schools that are excellent by any standards, while being remarkably affordable compared to larger countries.

Now that I have a family of my own, I am already thinking of what kind of future lifestyle would be best for my children. And I can’t think of anywhere better than Barbados.