Peter Island Announces New Managers

Matt Balcik and Christy Little as GM and Sales & Marketing Manager

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. October 22, 2008

OCTOBER 15, 2008. David Van Andel, representative owner of Peter Island, the largest private island resort in the British Virgin Islands, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Matt Balcik as General Manager. Balcik brings nearly 15 years of hospitality management experience, having most recently served as General Manager of the Westin Aruba Resort & Casino and General Manager of the Westin Saint John Resort & Villas prior to that. Balcik began his career in hotels in various operational capacities at the Newport Beach Marriott Suites Hotel in California. He then held other managerial positions with Marriott and Sheraton in California and New Orleans, respectively, before he moved on to the Westin Saint John. It was there where he started as Director of Rooms, worked his way to Director of Operations, Hotel Manager and ultimately General Manager.

Together with recently appointed Island Operations Manager Lemuel "Chi Chi" Smith, Balcik and his team will oversee all of Peter Island Resort's operational activities.

A native of Turkey, Balcik earned numerous accolades throughout his career from the Marriott, Sheraton and Westin brands. He has a bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. He enjoys sports and outdoor activities, and currently resides in North Miami Beach. Balcik can be contacted at [email protected].

Additionally, Ms. Christy Little, who previously served as Revenue & Reservations Manager for the Resort based in its Atlanta offices for the past 4 years, assumes the responsibilities of managing the Resort's sales and marketing efforts. A native of Murphy, North Carolina, Little has previously served as Revenue & Reservations Manager with Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA and prior to that as Director of Marketing and Information Services for Turneffe Island Lodge in Belize, Central America. Little obtained her MBA in May of this year, is Green Belt Six Sigma certified, and is a member of Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Little can be contacted at [email protected].

"We are thrilled to have as seasoned and dynamic a leader as Matt Balcik at Peter Island," explains Van Andel. "His extensive, hand-on operational expertise in rooms, food and beverage and human resources, as well as his proven record of extraordinary planning, organizational, personnel and customer relations skills, will absolutely serve as an asset to us here.

"And with Christy's leadership in sales and marketing, we are certain to stay top of mind to our guests and partners in tourism and hospitality."

Wayne Kafcsak, who for 11 years served as Managing Director of the Resort, played an active role in the planned restructuring of the management team. Having seen the transition through, Mr. Kafcsak has left to pursue other opportunities in the hospitality industry. Brian Dye, who formerly served as the Sales and Marketing Director for Peter Island, has also left to pursue other career interests.

For more information about the Resort, visit www.PeterIsland.com or call 1-770- 476-9988.