In the Caribbean, New Luxury Hotel Brands Emerge

The Caribbean appears to be poised for significant growth in the hotel sector, and new players are set to emerge over the next few years. As the market for luxury hospitality grows at a steady pace, hospitality companies are introducing high-end brands across the region.

Following its Caribbean debut with last year’s opening of the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana in Cuba, Kempinkski already has a second property in the pipeline. Slated for a fall 2019 opening, the Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica is being developed as a luxury hideaway retreat located next to the Cabrits National Park. The five-star property pledges to maintain the authenticity of the eco-tourism paradise with a design to preserve the unexplored volcanic island’s natural beauty.

The 160-room resort will have three restaurants on property serving international cuisine, a rooftop rum bar specializing in local Dominica rums, a full-service spa, watersports, three pools, a children’s club, fitness center, an all-weather tennis court and an outdoor amphitheater.

Slowly becoming one of the Caribbean’s luxury hotspots, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas will make its debut in the region with a luxury resort in St. Kitts (where the first Park Hyatt in the Caribbean opened as well) in 2021. Set on a 41-acre site of a former sugar cane plantation, Six Senses St. Kitts will comprise 70 villas with private plunge pools; and a signature Six Senses Spa with a dedicated pavilion for yoga and a fully equipped gym. At the food and beverage plaza, guests have a choice of dining alternatives, with an emphasis on fresh seafood and ingredients harvested on-demand from the resort’s organic fruit, vegetable and spice gardens and from local producers.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage a luxury resort and residences on Grand Cayman — its second in the Caribbean — scheduled to open in 2021. The Mandarin Oriental, Grand Cayman will be a 100-room, beachfront resort with 89 branded residences. Spanning 67 acres at St. James Point, on the southern shore of the island, it will overlook its own secluded white-sand beach. All guestrooms and suites will face the sea. The first Mandarin Oriental resort in the Caribbean opened this summer with the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan — formerly know as Pink Sands Club — in St. Vincent & The Grenadines. 

Hyatt will introduce its luxury boutique brand Andaz to the Caribbean in 2021. The Andaz Turks & Caicos at Grace Bay will sit on five-plus acres at the western end of Grace Bay Beach, housing 59 guest rooms and suites and 74 branded residences. Amenities include four restaurants and bars, including an elevated venue with unobstructed panoramic views, an indoor wellness facility with an outdoor garden yoga studio, and a full-service indoor and outdoor spa.

The Caribbean is set to welcome its first Waldorf Astoria hotel in 2020. Hilton’s luxury flagship brand will debut in Antigua with 95 rooms, 25 branded villas, a world-class spa and several waterside dining concepts. The resort will cover 30 acres of prime beachfront, with an additional five acres to be developed into a national park.

In Cuba, Accor Hotels’ design-centric SO/ brand will debut in 2020. SO/ Havana Paseo del Prado will have 250 guestrooms, including 36 suites. The rooftop bar will host international DJs and artists during the signature SO Parties, and the lobby lounge and bar is also expected to draw the crowds. Additional food and beverage outlets include a specialty restaurant, chocolate café bar and all-day eatery. There will also be a fitness center, swimming pool and SO/SPA.

Marriott will bring its Millennial-targeted Moxy Hotels to the region in 2020, in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Each hotel has vibrant lobby spaces, 24/7 self-service grab-and-go food and beverage options, and copious plug-ins for personal devices in the guestrooms and free-WiFi.