2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Anguilla. The Caribbean island is opening up its ecosystem of quiet luxury to a new generation of in-the-know travellers, with several high-end resort developments, improved flight connectivity, and a packed calendar of festivals celebrating its music, maritime heritage, and world-renowned food scene. For a small, scarcely populated island still finding its footing after a natural disaster and global tourism slump caused by the pandemic, pulling off this kind of expansion is no small feat. But this moment wasn’t built on tourism alone. It started decades ago when the island secured a digital asset that, in 2025, is paying out in ways no one saw coming.
In the mid-90s, long before Artificial Intelligence was on the lips of tech bros and CEOs, Anguilla was allotted the ‘ai.’ country code as part of a routine internet designation. Back then, it was nothing more than a bureaucratic decision – just another two-letter domain attached to a destination, in the same way that ‘.us’ and ‘.uk’ are connected to the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively. Initially, Anguilla didn’t have much use for the domain, but in the past few years, with AI exploding into one of the most (if not the most) transformative industries on the planet, that seemingly unimportant designation has quite literally turned into a digital goldmine.
How so, you ask? It’s because tech companies, startups, and billionaire firms from Silicon Valley to Shenzhen are all scrambling to claim their stakes in the Artificial Intelligence space right now, and for many, that means securing the ‘.ai’ web address. Every time a company registers or renews the domain, it lines the pockets of Anguilla, generating millions in revenue. And the numbers speak for themselves: In 2018, Anguilla made an estimated $3 million from .ai registrations. By 2023, as the AI boom took hold, that number had surged to nearly $30 million. In 2025, with artificial intelligence reshaping industries at breakneck speed (for better or worse), Anguilla’s digital windfall is only set to grow.
The British Overseas Territory, known for its pearly white beaches and high-profile clientele, isn’t letting its fortune sit idle – it has some pretty ambitious plans this year that have us eager to return.
Anguilla is bridging the distance in 2025
Anguilla isn’t exactly an easy island to reach – a feature, not a flaw, for jet-setters seeking a Caribbean escape that sits just beyond the well-trodden path. This year, however, the island is making strategic moves to improve connectivity through airport developments and new flight routes.
Its only airport, Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, is undergoing major expansions, with a sleek new passenger terminal set to be completed by autumn and a runway extension scheduled for completion in 2026. This will allow larger aircraft to land directly on Anguilla’s shores, meaning fewer transfers and more seamless arrivals for those flying in from major local hubs. The island’s neighbour, St. Maarten, has also been busy refining its role as a gateway to and from Anguilla, recently completing a multi-million dollar facelift of its Princess Juliana Airport.
Meanwhile, major air carriers are increasing their connectivity to the island. American Airlines is adding a third nonstop flight from Miami on Saturdays, running through the high season, while regional carriers such as Tradewind Aviation, SkyHigh Aviation, and Cape Air are expanding their Caribbean routes to accommodate the surge in visitors. Anguilla Air Services, which introduced a route between Anguilla and Antigua in late 2023, will continue operating through May, providing connections for UK travellers flying via Antigua. Even long-haul connections are improving, with Condor Airlines launching a new Frankfurt–Antigua service this winter, strengthening access from mainland Europe.
New stays, new flavours
Anguilla’s hospitality scene is thriving in 2025, with some of its most prestigious resorts unveiling new concepts and experiences for the winter sun season. Malliouhana, now celebrating its 40th anniversary, has restored its historic wine cellar and launched the AMA Recording Experience, benefiting the Anguilla Music Academy. The resort has also launched an eco-tour of its 25-acre tropical gardens and a stargazing programme in partnership with the SETI Institute and Unistellar. Its culinary landscape is also receiving an injection of fresh energy, with acclaimed Anguillian chef Kerth Gumbs now leading the charge as Culinary Director of its three signature restaurants.
Malliouhana isn’t the only resort upping the ante in the wake of the Island’s AI jackpot: Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club has teamed up with St. Barts’ Hotel Manapany for a seven-night luxury getaway package that comes with transfers, gourmet dining experiences, and resort credit for guests to spend at their leisure, alongside a variety of other perks. Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel (which we had the pleasure of staying at), has introduced several new immersive activities, from kite-making classes and terrarium building to salt-picking excursions – a nod to the island’s history – and wellness-focused experiences in collaboration with Guerlain. CeBlue Luxury Villas has completed an upgrade programme, adding a new pizza bar and advancing its sustainability initiatives.
Across the island, Little Harbour Estates and Zemi Beach House have also introduced new amenities and offerings, ranging from pickleball courts and beachfront yoga to refined dining concepts. Meanwhile, new restaurants like Dames Anguilla and Rendezvous @ Tasty’s Beach Club are already commanding attention and reinforcing Anguilla’s reputation as the Caribbean’s culinary capital.
2025 will also see the arrival of brand-new luxury resorts and high-end marinas. Ani Private Resorts is preparing to launch its second Anguillan property, a 15-suite luxury retreat on Shoal Bay East – often regarded as one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches. Big plans are in motion for the island’s eastern seacoast, with the Savannah Bay Marina and Resort on the horizon – though the opening date is still under wraps.
Anguilla is making room for the superyacht crowd with the highly anticipated Altamer Marina, Yacht Club, and Luxury Resort, expected to open in 2026. This multimillion-dollar development will include a 118-berth marina for yachts up to 250 feet alongside a 62-room hotel, branded residences, beachfront villas, and a collection of resort condominiums.
Reggae and regattas
On the cultural front, this little Eastern Caribbean island is turning up the heat with a calendar of can’t-miss events and festivals this year, offering travellers the chance to immerse themselves in the island’s music, food, and heritage.
The Anguilla Music Tourism Convention is set to take place in November. It’ll be a first-of-its-kind project that will bring together industry professionals and artists to explore the intersection of music and travel. Moonsplash, the Caribbean’s longest-running independent reggae festival, will return on March 14, with Bankie Banx once again transforming Rendezvous Bay into a sunlit paradise of sound and soul, followed by The Anguilla Culinary Experience in April, a staple for bonafide foodies hoping to get better acquainted with Anguillan cuisine beyond Johnny cakes, snapper, and rum punches (although there’s no shame in sticking to the classics!).
Festival del Mar will once again transform Island Harbour into a maritime wonderland over Easter weekend with boat races, seafood competitions, and cultural performances. And, as summer rolls in, the Anguilla Summer Festival will saturate the island in unbridled joy and colour, offering a whirlwind of carnival parades, calypso competitions, and the legendary J’Ouvert street party.
With so much unfolding across Anguilla in 2025, the question of over-tourism naturally arises for many discerning travellers – ourselves included – who are watching closely and crossing their fingers, hoping that the island’s rapid progress doesn’t come at the expense of its off-the-radar appeal. This, after all, is something that has long distinguished Anguilla from its Caribbean neighbours. Fortunately, a series of sustainability initiatives are reassuring signs that growth is being carefully managed to align with the island’s identity rather than erode it. A newly launched Environmental Stewardship Programme is pushing hotels and tourism operators to integrate eco-conscious practices into their daily operations. The island is also doubling down on marine conservation efforts, with the Blue Economy initiative working to protect its fragile coastal ecosystems. But the most exciting development may be the introduction of a new “Volun-Tourism” programme, which will allow visitors to actively participate in community projects during their stay.
Anguilla has made it clear that being the unlikely benefactor of the AI boom doesn’t have to mean compromising on what matters most. While technology fuels its future, the island remains committed to protecting its essence – its environment, people, and the rare sense of escapism that keeps clued-in jet-setters coming back for more. And that itself is something worth celebrating.
Photography courtesy of Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
