Pleasant Cove is the first luxury villa to be built on Tobago Plantations, Lowlands, in eight years.
The spacious property, which was completed in August 2021, is situated a short distance away from the scenic Magdalena Grand golf course.
Pleasant Cove was initially conceptualised as a family vacation get-away but on April 1, its owners decided to share its amenities with foreigners and locals as Tobago seeks to reposition itself as the ideal tourist destination.
“As the island reopens its doors to the international market, its owners decided to reimagine this tourism product,” said Dee York, who manages Pleasant Cove and several other properties on the Plantations compound.
“The family would still come here to stay as much as they can but when they are not here it is open for bookings.”
Apart from providing high-quality accommodation for guests, York believes the villa, by virtue of its breath-taking amenities, can also help to revitalise the island’s tourism sector, which has been virtually decimated by the covid19 pandemic over the past two years.
Aware that the pandemic has changed the way in which tourists and locals plan their vacations, York said Pleasant Cove provides a private, covid19-friendly environment through which clients can still experience the beauty, culture and cuisine of Tobago, without having to worry about large crowds of holidaymakers, especially with the long Easter weekend just one week away.
“Pleasant Cove provides an opportunity to create a covid19-friendly bubble where tourists can still experience the island, culture and cuisine but limit contact. Tobago can capitalise on pandemic and post pandemic tourism.”
[caption id="attachment_949090" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The dining room at Pleasant Cove -[/caption]
She believes the villa will also create employment opportunities for people already involved in the tourism sector.
“Covid19 has redefined interaction and now more than ever, people want private spaces. So, the owners felt that the use of the property as a luxury villa with concierge services can stimulate employment opportunities for chefs, tour boat operators and other tourism-related stakeholders.”
Combining British colonial style with local artistry, the villa’s ornaments and fixtures were made by artisans in both Trinidad and Tobago.
Pleasant Cove’s wooden chandeliers were crafted by Tobagonian carpenters while its wall fixtures, accented by halved deyas, were done by pottery makers in Chaguanas.
Much of the interior design was done by Trinidadian Eduardo Torres while some of the artwork was done by one of the owners.
“This was a go local effort. As much local content and craftsmanship as possible.”
York described the villa as a home away from home.
“It’s luxurious, very private and has everything. So, it’s fully self-contained.”
[caption id="attachment_949093" align="alignnone" width="781"] Dee York, manager of Pleasant Cove villa. -[/caption
