Anguilla is mourning the loss of one of its most influential tourism leaders, Sue Ricketts, whose work helped shape the island’s luxury travel industry.
Tourism minister Cardigan Connor issued an official statement on 12 July paying tribute on behalf of the Government of Anguilla, the Anguilla Tourist Board, and the wider tourism sector.
“We are grateful for her decades of dedicated service and immeasurable contributions to our nation. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come,” he said.
The minister explained that Sue Ricketts arrived in Anguilla in 1978 and – alongside her husband Robin – became a driving force behind the development of Anguilla’s distinctive tourism identity.
She embraced a model of low-volume, high-value hospitality that has become the hallmark of the island’s brand, Connor said in his statement.
Ricketts was instrumental in establishing two of Anguilla’s most iconic resorts – Malliouhana and Cap Juluca – both of which helped place the island firmly on the map for luxury travel.
But her work extended well beyond resort development – “she was a visionary, a mentor, a trailblazer and a lifelong ambassador of the island,” Connor said.
Through the Anguilla Luxury Villas Collection and her leadership in villa rentals and hospitality management, she championed a style of tourism marked by authenticity and elegance.
Ricketts earned widespread admiration for her commitment to excellence, talent development, and international marketing.
“She mentored and empowered local talent, cultivated strong global relationships, and elevated the standards of hospitality on our island,” Connor’s statement said.
“Her work was not merely a profession, it was a reflection of her passion, integrity, and deep love for Anguilla, the place she proudly called home.”
In a poignant detail, he noted that just days before her passing, Anguilla was once again voted the number one Best Island in the Caribbean in the Travel + Leisure 2025 World’s Best Awards.
“This honour is a testament to the legacy Sue helped to build – one rooted in excellence, beauty and genuine hospitality,” Connor said.
The tourism minister described Ricketts as “a true luminary of Anguilla’s tourism sector” and said her decades of service would continue to inspire future generations.
“May her memory continue to inspire us to pursue excellence, to serve with pride and to touch lives with grace, just as she so graciously did,” he said.
Connor extended heartfelt condolences to her husband Robin Ricketts, the Ricketts’ family, friends and colleagues, and the wider tourism community.
“May her memory continue to inspire us to pursue excellence, to serve with pride, and to touch lives with grace, just as she so graciously did,” Connor concluded.
