Large hotel chains to add new “ultra-luxury” resorts in Caribbean in 2024

In the Dominican Republic, the Hilton chain will add a new all-inclusive hotel to its portfolio, located in Miches. Photo: Reportur

By: José Luis Perelló

The luxury market is increasing and with it the luxury tourism sector. We can define luxury tourism as that based on the experiences that allow you to enjoy, and whose fundamental aspects are comfort, safety and well-being. Luxury tourism offers those services that anticipate the demands and needs of travelers. The new guests are not looking for what is ostentatious and expensive, but rather for a customized and sustainable experience. It has a profile that is more aware of environmental and social problems.

This new trend also makes it possible to completely immerse yourself in work while traveling and relaxing, thus improving your well-being and productivity. In this sense, people can work while carrying out tourism, doing remote jobs. That is why it has become a fundamental pillar of luxury tourism, since it wants to provide an experience of well-being immersed in work.

Luxury or high-end tourists have become one of the great objectives of the destinations of the Caribbean region, which has always been characterized by the “all inclusive” model predominant in sun and beach vacation tourism. The new demands prompt the specialization of professionals within the big brands in the tourism sector, creating the profile of the luxury tourism professional.

What is fundamental in this professional profile are languages, proximity and knowing how to serve clients. They must have comprehensive and multi-sector knowledge within the sector of unique products and services of luxury brands; they must be team leaders, identify the best business strategies and correctly manage the value of these luxury brands.

Faced with this new scenario, the large luxury resort hotel chains will add properties to their portfolio in 2024 with top resorts in the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grand Cayman focusing on well-being, rest and physical and mental relaxation.

On the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Sandals brand, a chain of all-inclusive resorts for adults, will open next March the Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Resort with 301 rooms, suites and villas, including the first luxury two-story villas in on the water.

In the Dominican Republic, the Hilton chain will add a new all-inclusive hotel to its portfolio, located in Miches. The Zemi Hotels & Resorts, SRL facility will be managed by Hilton and will open in 2024. The Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton will have 502 rooms. The hotel will be located facing the sea on Esmeralda Beach, the rooms will be distributed in six four-story buildings and 18 independent beach bungalows. These include 123 rooms on the ground floor with individual pools that connect through other areas of the resort.

The resort will include a nightclub, children’s games, clubs and retail shops. Guests will have a choice of nine food and beverage options, a lobby bar, sports bar, pool complex with water park, fitness center and juice bar, in addition to a spa building that will have ten treatment rooms, a beauty salon, indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi and an outdoor terrace for yoga and meditation.

Hilton is also expanding the Tapestry Collection brand in Bermuda with Bermudiana Beach Resort in July near Bermuda’s picturesque pink sand beaches. It will offer 111 rooms and will feature a bar and restaurant atop a cliff overlooking the sea. A large swimming pool, a spa and a terrace with yoga complete and guarantee peace and enjoyment.

Also in the Dominican Republic, a new resort will open that will be added to the Punta Cana offer. The St. Regis Cap Cana will offer 200 rooms, in a selection of luxury residences for travelers. Guests will enjoy a private stretch of beach, as well as access to the nearby Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada Golf Club. The offer is completed with seven swimming pools, a St. Regis spa, a kids’ club, gym and wellness center.

On the island of Grenada, on La Sagesse beach, the 71-suite Six Senses La Sagesse will be a new resort with an emphasis on wellness and personal care. The complex will supply its own food through fishing and growing local products. The proposal includes nature excursions and walks through a unique environment.

In the spring of 2024, on the small state of Antigua and Barbuda the Royalton CHIC Antigua will open, an all-inclusive resort located along the island’s Dickenson Bay. The resort will feature 235 rooms and suites, five bars, seven restaurants, the Royal Spa and four pools, many of which will offer the high-energy atmosphere known at Royalton CHIC resorts, with daily programming such as pop-up pool parties.

In Cayman Islands, the Indigo Grand Cayman Hotel, an IHG hotel, will open on June 1, 2024. It offers a great location near Seven Mile Beach and brings the island’s maritime focus to a luxury, pet-friendly facility. It will feature a stunning ocean-view pool and accessible rooms.