Ralph W. Taylor

Ralph W. Taylor is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcadia Hotels & Resorts, a new hotel brand that owns and manages The SoCo Hotel in Barbados.

Responsible for the introduction of the all-inclusive concept to Barbados, in 1991, he acquired the Divi Resort and rebranded it as the Almond Beach Club & Spa in St. James, Barbados. He served Chairman and Managing Director of Almond Resorts Inc. for the next 20 years and spearheaded the successful expansion of Almond’s all-inclusive product, from one to four hotels with over 1,200 rooms in both Barbados and St. Lucia.

Named the “Caribbean Hotelier of the Year,” by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association in 1995, Mr. Taylor was recognized as the “Caribbean Media Personality of the Year” by the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism in 2003. He was awarded the inaugural Barbados Minister of Tourism “Lifetime Achievement” award in 2006 for his outstanding contribution to Caribbean tourism.

Mr. Taylor has served on numerous boards across the Caribbean. He is a past President and Chairman of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and has also served as chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority, Chairman of the Tourism Development Corporation, President of the Barbados Hotel Association and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Minister of Tourism in Barbados.