RL: What is your role at Cayman Villas (CV)?
JCF: My role is Managing Director. However, I have my hand in everything. I oversee business development, marketing, accounting, reservations, customer service, PR, and HR. In this business, you need to know everything and ensure owners, customers,
and vendors are cared for. I am supported by a fantastic team of five admin staff and five housekeepers who are all Caymanian and have 160 years’ combined experience in the hospitality industry.

RL: Tell us about CV’s growth in the rental market.
JCF: Cayman Villas started in March 1970 with two properties on Seven Mile Beach. At our peak in 2019, we had 95 short-term rental properties. The pandemic hit hard, and we dropped to 62 properties. Throughout the challenges, we stayed positive, changed tactics, and adapted. Since August 2022, we have come back strong and currently have 68 properties with numerous new ones in the pipeline. I am confident we will get back to 95 properties in the next year.

RL: describe your portfolio of properties.
JCF: Our properties are across Grand Cayman from West Bay to South Sound and Bodden Town to Cayman Kai and Rum Point. We also have two beautiful cottages in Little Cayman. We have a diverse range of properties, from a quaint, cosy studio directly on Seven Mile Beach to an eight-bedroom luxury estate on the cliffs in Savannah. We can provide accommodations for one guest and up to 26 guests in a private villa or condo.

RL: Many assume staying in a private villa is more expensive than staying at a hotel. Is this true?
JCF: Absolutely not. Private villas can mean better value for money and an improved vacation experience. Friends and family can all stay together in one property instead of paying for multiple hotel rooms, which come with additional fees and costs. A private rental can be more economical and a lot more fun.

RL: CV is more than a booking agent. What additional services do you provide to your guests?
JCF: We are, first and foremost, a booking agency and are proud to have recently been voted the ‘Best Booking Agency’ in Grand Cayman for 2023. In addition to rentals, we are also able to provide full concierge services to our guests.

RL: What services do you offer to property owners?
JCF: We offer our owners a completely stress-free short-term rental reservation service, and eight years ago we started offering full property management services. This enables owners to keep their eggs in one basket with a professional, highly experienced team that they trust implicitly. We look after our owners’ properties
as if they were our own. We know that keeping a property maintained to the highest standard is not only beneficial to the owner but also to Cayman Villas and our guests.

RL. What is your advice for those considering investing in a rental property?
JCF: In terms of getting the best return on your investment, a short-term rental must be on the water – either beach, cliff, or canal (with access to the North Sound), as 99% of visiting tourists want to see the Caribbean Sea or have easy access to it. It must be crisp, clean, modern, and welcoming. Most come to see the beauty of the Cayman Islands, both land and sea, so an inviting, nicely furnished property, with amenities included, is the icing on the cake!

RL. What does 2024 look like for CV?
JCF: Well, not to give away too many secrets, but 2024 looks to be even better than 2019, and that was our record year to date. So things are looking positive and exciting.

RL: Do you have an island secret?
JCF: I do – but it’s a secret! Must-do? I recommend to all my guests that they drive around the island, as each district has its own character and charm. We all know that Seven Mile Beach is stunning, but there is magic and beauty to be seen all around the island. Favourite spot? Well, I was born and raised here in Grand Cayman, and I love the main island tremendously, but my favorite spot in the whole wide world is under a very special seagrape tree on a very spectacular beach in Little Cayman!