There is an allure to the Caribbean islands that continues to draw travelers back to its deep azure waters and white sand beaches season after season, making it a prime landscape for hospitality developments. At the end of 2021, the 369-key Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman emerged from a $50 million renovation led by New York-based Champalimaud Design, which was followed by the opening of nearly 30 new hotels to date, according to Q4 2023 data from Lodging Econometrics.
Ongoing activity continues to surge in the Caribbean, with Lodging Econometrics data reporting a pipeline of 151 hotels totaling 31,300 rooms. The Dominican Republic currently has the busiest queue with 48 projects under development, among them the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia, a 60-acre luxury destination situated along the Playa Esmeralda beachfront. Designed by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, the 95-key resort with 25 branded residences will debut in early 2026 with a sustainably minded tropical modernist design.
Seafoam green walls set the tone at the Silver Palm Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
Also on the horizon is Somewhere Else, a resort by Dave Grutman and Pharrell Williams (the duo previously teamed up on Miami’s Goodtime Hotel in 2021) that will make its way to Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, as well as the Studio Munge-designed Vie L’Ven Luxury Resort & Residences on the island of St. Maarten.
This year alone, the region is positioned for significant growth with 30 projects poised to make a splash, including the under-construction St. Regis Aruba Palm Beach Resort; Grenada’s Six Senses La Sagesse, which marks the brand’s first Caribbean property; and the soon-to-open JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa.
Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Farouki Farouki is behind the design of Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, shown in a rendering
Another, the 282-key Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, is set to open its doors on the famous Seven Miles Beach. Situated on the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it will feature a multi-concept dining hub, an outdoor deck with an infinity pool, more than 7,500 square feet of event space, and the island’s first rooftop lounge.
The property—the handiwork of Farouki Farouki—is a bohemian celebration of the natural landscape and traditions, showcasing handmade pottery and local artwork. “One challenge was tapping into and telling the local story of Grand Cayman in an authentic way,” says Caroline Farouki, partner at the New Orleans-based firm. “One might come to Grand Cayman and miss some of the rich culture that is hiding just below the surface. The land and people are beautiful and storied, and we’re proud of how the design expresses that.”
The island’s relaxed spirit is alive in every part of the hotel. Guestrooms are youthful yet sophisticated with clean lines and an earthy palette reminiscent of caymanite, a local stone, which “juxtaposes the teal of the Caribbean Sea,” says Farouki. Meanwhile, meeting rooms feature an ombré carpet that mirrors the water, with custom woven ceiling panels that nod to traditional thatch weaving. “The spaces feel special, natural, and inviting,” she adds.
Peter Island Resort
A two-bedroom villa at Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands
Over in the British Virgin Islands is Peter Island Resort, which will soon welcome guests once again after hurricane damage forced its doors closed in 2017. The property emerges from its six-year renovation, with interiors by Finnish firm Kudos Dsign Oy and architecture by OBMI, a local firm that oversaw the early iterations of Peter Island’s design in the 1970s. The property “served as a significant milestone in the beginning of tourism in the BVI,” says OBMI CEO Doug Kulig.
Peter Island reopens with 52 new rooms, a new arrival journey, entertainment areas, a yacht club, a pool bar and grill, and renewed wellness amenities. As a reflection of the Caribbean’s vibrant ecosystems, the design palette incorporates muted shades of turquoise, earth tones nodding to the island’s clay and volcanic formations, and pops of coral. Everything, from the stone pathways to handcrafted wooden furniture and woven reed details, “is an intentional nod to the beauty of nature and the rich tapestry of the island’s heritage, creating an immersive and unforgettable experience,” says Pia Litokorpi, founder and creative director of Kudos.
The Strand
An indoor-outdoor space at the Strand, shown in a rendering, maximizes views of Cooper Jack Bay
Further east across the Caribbean Sea in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, two new developments are touching down this fall, one of which is the Strand in Providenciales. Nestled in the heart of Cooper Jack Bay, the property will open with 41 beachfront villas and residences.
Brought to life by Fort Lauderdale-based studio Modus Operandi and RAD Architecture’s Miami office, the hotel’s design is kept clean and minimal to draw eyes to the water. Coral stone cladding and pavers in natural sandy tones mimic the rugged coastline, while deep brown pergolas take cues from driftwood, creating “a color palette inspired by the contextual beauty of the land,” says Peter Christensen, project architect at RAD Architecture. The accommodations maximize both indoor and outdoor spaces via large sliding doors that extend living areas out onto views of the bay, along with terraces equipped with outdoor kitchens, plunge pools, and hot tubs.
About 80 percent of the property’s power runs on solar, with many of the buildings designed to conceal panels that harvest and store energy in a Tesla Powerwall. “[We are] striving to be as sustainable as possible without detracting from the rustic elegance,” Christensen adds.
Salterra
A rendering of Regatta, among several F&B offerings at the upcoming Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Turks and Caicos
Marriott is gearing up to unveil Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, this fall in South Caicos—an island on the southeastern side of the Turks and Caicos archipelago. This debut will mark the collection’s first property in Turks and Caicos and will comprise 100 guestrooms and suites, a spa with eight treatment rooms, and six distinct F&B concepts.
Located between the ocean on one side and the salt flats on the other, Salterra “takes cues from nature, vestiges of colonialism, and the beauty of erosion and rejuvenation,” says Malcolm Berg, president and design director of EoA Group, who is leading the resort’s design. “Our materials and colors reflect the passage of time—they are deferential to natural patinas, with rust hues and cerulean blues splashing over a canvas of salty whites.” South Caicos was a major 16-century salt export hub, “a history that is reflected in the resort’s design,” Berg points out, “with whitewashed stucco buildings adorned with colorful shutters reminiscent of the buildings where salt was once stored.”
The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas
A rendering of a living area in the Ocean Club Four Seasons Residences, set to debut in 2027
Situated close to the resort bearing the same name, the 67-key Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences in the Bahamas is set to debut in 2027, coinciding with the property’s 60th anniversary.
Featuring architecture by 10SB (formerly SB Architects) with interiors from New York-based Champalimaud Design, the Ocean Club residences will feature an oceanfront swimming pool, private library, rum room, coworking space, children’s playroom, and wellness spas. Residents will also have access to the resort’s amenities, including the Versailles-inspired gardens and Dune restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
“There is a timeless backdrop at the Ocean Club, [but] the specialty areas possess their own identity and a use of color that is stronger than in similar projects we’ve done in the past,” says Winston Kong, partner at Champalimaud Design. The living areas draw inspiration from the Ocean Club’s heritage, where a British colonial style of dark-stained woods and ivory tones are “enlivened with the rich red of sea coral immersed in the ocean’s many shades of blue.” Herringbone wood floors run underfoot, meeting rattan chairs, beaded wood, and sculptural chandeliers.
From the dark, moody library to the bustling F&B areas, “there’s something for everyone, and the greatest strength of the project is the flexibility of space that provides sanctuary for however one might feel,” he says, adding that “people can feel that serenity and tranquility, but also enjoy the conveniences of contemporary life.”
This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2024 issue.
