St Kitts and Nevis ’trailblazer’ dies aged 77

Alceo ‘Archie’ Zuliani – who helped dramatically expand the tourism industry in St Kitts and Nevis – passed away over the weekend aged 77.

A Canadian businessman of Italian descent, Mr Zuliani died in Toronto on Saturday.

Timothy Harris, the federation’s prime minister, extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the family and friends of Archie.

Since the early 1980s, Mr Zuliani was regarded as a pioneer in St Kitts and Nevis tourism.

He established Trans-Americainvest (St Kitts) Limited, which developed the iconic 18-acre Royal St Kitts Hotel and Casino property in Frigate Bay – the first major hotel in the country.

Mr Zuliani was also instrumental in introducing the investor behind the Royal St Kitts Beach Resort, which is now known as the St Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, to the federation.

He became a fixture in the local community through his employment of hundreds of Kittitians and Nevisians, as well as through his longstanding charitable contributions to organisations such as the St Christopher Children’s Home, to which he provided Christmas lunch and gifts and monetary donations on an annual basis.

During the 1990s, Mr. Zuliani also impacted upon scores of students throughout St. Kitts who were the beneficiaries of a scholarship fund that covered their uniforms and textbooks from first form all the way through fifth form.

He is survived by his son, John, who is the President of Trans-Americainvest (St Kitts) Limited/Royal St Kitts Hotel.

Love for St Kitts and Nevis

When Archie opened the Royal St Kitts Hotel and Casino in 1983, it replaced the seven-year-old Royal St Kitts Hotel, bringing the room total at the site to almost 300.

In 1985, Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino was leased to Jack Tar Village, a major hotel chain based in Dallas.

For the next 17 years, the hotel was the predominant tourist resort in St Kitts and Nevis, bringing in successful charters from Boston, Dallas and Toronto on a weekly basis.

Just before 2010, Mr Zuliani conceptualised a cutting-edge ownership programme called Vacation for Life, which falls under the federation’s Citizenship by Investment offerings.

“We have lost an investor who had a huge heart of love for our people and for our country, said the prime minister.

“In good times and in bad times, Archie Zuliani remained committed to St Kitts and Nevis.”

Donations in memory of Archie may be made to the St Christopher Children’s Home St Kitts.