In this episode of “5 Questions With," Eleanore Longley is joined by Beth, Bobbie and Adele who are part of the Garbutt family who own and run Calabash, a boutique hotel on the Caribbean island of Grenada. 

The Calabash story starts with a delayed flight. In 1985, Beth, Bobbie and Adele’s father, Leo Garbutt, was asked to visit Grenada by a friend with a view to purchasing a rum distillery on the island. During this trip, he met Lilian Ramdhanny, who in 1986 became his wife. Due to a delayed flight back to the UK, Leo found himself at The Calabash Hotel where he felt an ‘aura of infectious happiness’, which led him to purchase the property with Lilian in 1987.

They set to work immediately, despite never having worked in the hospitality sector and have since grown Calabash to become one of the leading luxury hotels in the Caribbean and a proud member of Relais & Châteaux.

In 2012, daughters Adele and Beth emigrated back from the UK, with Adele leaving behind her marketing job in London and Beth, fresh out of culinary school at Ballymaloe in Ireland. Both sisters are now involved with running Calabash, with Beth focused on developing the Food & Beverage, and Adele heading up Sales & Marketing, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations. Last year, youngest sister Bobbie joined the family business to support on marketing for the hotel, whilst also becoming closely involved with the family’s organic estate, L’Esterre. She recently launched her own tree-to-bar chocolate company in the UK, using cocoa from the estate. 

Listen in as Beth, Adele and Bobbie chat about the story behind Calabash and how it came into the family, life growing up in a hotel, and how Calabash’s warm and genuine service makes it so special resulting in guests returning year after year. 

For more information, please visit: 
https://www.calabashhotel.com/ 
https://www.instagram.com/calabashhotel/

A Family Affair on Grenada: 5 Questions with the Garbutt sisters of Calabash

"Up 2 U" written by Nico and produced by Will Ludington
Artwork by Gigi Goode & Nico
Follow @thenicoshow on instagram & twitter

Up 2 U - Single

Up 2 U

Today we talk to sustainable luxury travel expert, and the Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller, Juliet Kinsman on how COVID is affecting the hospitality world as we know it and what lies ahead for ethical and responsible travel. Juliet has been an authority in the travel world for over two decades, as a renowned hotel expert. She’s the former Editor-in-Chief of the boutique hotel guide, Mr & Mrs Smith, and went on to found Bouteco, a platform that helps design lovers find the best eco-conscious design-led hotels. Juliet also just released a fantastic book called The Green Edit: Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller, a simple guide to demystifying sustainable travel to help us all make better choices. We discuss sustainability in all its glory, and travel in the time of COVID, carbon offsetting, the difference between US and UK markets in sustainable outlook & approach, how urban hotels can best tackle sustainability, her favourite suitable brands and apps, and more!

A Family Affair on Grenada: 5 Questions with the Garbutt sisters of Calabash

JPR

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