Heather--PROFILE-OF-THE-MOMENT

Heather Lockington shares with us her dreams and achievements

as a woman entrepreneur in The Cayman Islands.

As the owner of Cotton Tree Luxury Boutique Resort, Ms.

Lockington provides her clients with the utmost services and

amenities available on the Island.

Her attention to details and personalize services has made her a

success in making her guests feel at home.

We had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Lockington, and here is

what she has to say:

UPSCALE LIVING: How did you come up with the idea of starting

your business?

HEATHER: I suppose the idea started from what I really wanted on a holiday. I didn't like hotels, where someone ordered your

vacation experience. I liked to do what I want to do when I want to; so if I wanted to have breakfast at midday, I could, and if I want

a drink by the pool, I wasn't waiting for someone to get it for me. I really had no problem going to my fridge, mixing my own, and

taking the top off a beer! I also liked places to stay that had some sense of where they were situated, rather than being the same

as somewhere else. I used to live on Seven Mile beach some 10 years ago, and I would always walk the beach bumping into

people who would usually ask if there were any places in Cayman where they could come and stay that had an Island feel

combined with hotel type amenities, and that provided a home-away from-home feel. This was particularly the case with families

that would otherwise need suites or connecting rooms to accommodate four or five people. This persuaded me to move forward,

and knowing there were others like me who valued these differences, made me decided to take the plunge and develop a piece of

land in West Bay, which has beach frontage but very peaceful and secluded, while being a short drive to George Town.

UPSCALE LIVING: What are your dreams and goals for your business?

HEATHER: I would like Cotton Tree to give our guests the very best type of holiday experience where they can do exactly what

they want, when they want to, and ultimately, take something away with them in terms of Cayman heritage and culture, whether it

is looking at some of the black and white pictures in the cottages of old time Cayman, studying the plants, butterflies and birds in

the gardens, learning something about Caymanian cooking or reading about some old time Caymanian sayings on our Dreddy

cards. At the same time, I want our guests to experience exactly what they want in terms of their holiday, whether it is sitting by

the pool or walking along the deserted natural Barkers beach, or going to our wonderful local restaurants, or experiencing our

many local activities, which we can help our guests with. Service is the key here, and we aim to help our guests as much as they

need. If they don't need help and just want to chill out untroubled by anyone else, it is perfectly possible to do that at Cotton Tree,

because of the way the cottages have been designed and laid out with their own space and exterior areas.

UPSCALE LIVING: Has it been challenging for you as a woman entrepreneur in Grand Cayman?

HEATHER: Not at all. It is just a case of getting on with the job. I was very lucky to have some wonderful people help me with the

project and we all gelled and had the same vision, which helps enormously. Sometimes, you have to just go for it and see what

happens. Enthusiasm and belief can take you a long ways.

For those of you reading about Ms. Lockington dreams and achievements, take a plunge, just like she did, and enjoy the unique

amenities that Cotton Tree offers to those who want to travel, but want to keep the feeling of home-away-from-home!

Profile of the Moment

HEATHER LOCKINGTON