VUE

K rolow began traveling the world in 1999 to develop marketing and strategic partners to unify the geographically diverse industry. ese partnerships have aided in establishing his company, Private Islands INC., a leader in private island realty; the company serves as the global marketplace for private island rentals and sales. Private Islands Online is their exclusive database where customers can view a plethora of islands in several regions around the globe. is time, instead of helping a client buy an island, Krolow and his business partner, David Keener, bought one of their very own and transformed it into a secluded resort for up to four guests. Located 20 miles northeast of Placencia, Belize, Gladden Caye is a hidden resort that just began taking reservations in September 2017 and it is already currently booked for the next six months. Gladden is the longest reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. e island was completely untouched when Krolow and Keener acquired it, and in just seven months, Gladden was transformed into a luxurious private vacation getaway. According to Krolow,, "e idea that was our guests don't see any other guests and they also don't see any staff." Keener also explains that the privacy meter system is used to respect guests' privacy while still being able to provide excellent services. "When the staff comes over to the island, they hit the dock, they press a button, the lights go to red, when they leave the island, they go to green meaning there's no one on the island but the guests," he explains. Many luxury private island vacation opportunities either offer a single home on an island, but that would also result in self-catering, or an intrusive staff. Other opportunities provide great services in a resort setting, however space is limited and guests are unable to enjoy solitude. Gladden Caye provides the ultimate seclusion for guests to truly appreciate the luxuries of a private island stay . e manager, chef, concierge, and staff are a two-minute boat ride from the smaller island and are quickly available when signalled for assistance. e aerial view over the island shows crystal clear water with 200-foot visibility and beautiful green reefs. Being close to the reefs provides a level of protection against rising tides, however David Keener explains, "In a storm we want the most protection possible, so I had from Florida, high-velocity hurricane shutters custom made." e shutters are hidden and can be easily released if needed during an emergency. VUE ON TRAVEL V U E N J . C O M 115

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