From the outside, Saint Lucia is seen as one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world. But for many of the guests who have been coming here over the years, the island has become more than a holiday stopover; it’s become more like home away from home, and the people, they have become family.
The Dorans are two such people, and for the past two decades, these two Canadians have made Sandals Grande Saint Lucian a staple visit annually. Saint Lucia has brought them much joy, and, like many of Sandals’ loyal, returning guests, they feel it’s their turn to give back to the island and its people.
The Dorans’ story with the island began in 1997, when Saint Lucia’s tourism industry was just beginning to boom, attracting tourists from around the world. Their resort of choice was Sandals Halcyon. However, it was not until 2002 that they returned. It did not take long for the magic they experienced five years before to captivate them, and trips to Sandals Grande Saint Lucia became a regular thing after that.
According to the Dorans, they first experienced true Saint Lucian hospitality from resort team members and, over the years, forged strong bonds with many of them. The treatment from the team piqued their curiosity, and the stories shared about families created in them a desire to give back, in some small way, to the communities.
Over the years, the Dorans have brought in large quantities of school supplies, which they have donated to students. In fact, they have included schools from Castries, all the way down to the Roblot Combined School in the south of the island.
In 2012, the Dorans’ retirement meant that they had even more time to spend at their favourite winter destination. It meant longer vacations, increasing from just a few nights to up to 12, even 18 weeks, at their home away from home.
The only interruption came during the COVID pandemic, which shut down travel globally. But as soon as the restrictions were lifted, the Dorans were on the nearest aeroplane heading south to check on the places and the people they cared about.
Over the years, their frequent trips to Saint Lucia and the Caribbean have made them among Sandals’ most loyal guests, accumulating over 1,000 nights. And even though they have sampled some other winter destinations, it is hibernating on the beach at Sandals Grande that they find most satisfying and fulfilling.
When not exploring the island, they enjoy the simple peace of mind and security that comes with a visit to Sandals, basking in the warm weather, sand, and sea, and most of all, being taken care of by their Sandals family. They have enjoyed the experience so much that the Dorans could not help but spread the love and include other family members to share in this euphoria during long winters.
