The Turks and Caicos’ own, Grace Bay Club was awarded the #1 spot in the Top 10 Beach Getaways in the March/April 2011 issue of Virtuoso Life.

While the boutique resort has been honoured many times before, this award is especially important because it is selected by the top travel advisors in the countries largest market, the U.S. The famed hotel is the only property in Turks and Caicos to be included on the prestigious list.

“These things don’t happen overnight,” says Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts. “Receiving such an honor is the culmination of hundreds and hundreds of handmade experiences that our staff continues to create for our guests. This truly puts Grace Bay Club in the same league as the big players such as the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, which gives us great pride being an independently-owned, boutique resort.”

Perched on 11 acres of immaculate beachfront, Grace Bay Club was the first luxury hotel built in Turks and Caicos and has since set the bar for luxury resorts in the region. Founded in 1993, the storied all-suite boutique resort was purchased in 2001 and reintroduced into the luxury market after a $250 million renovation and expansion.

“Its all in the details,” Advani says is the secret to success at the Grace Bay Club. He notes thanks to the devoted staff and vision of developer and owner Mark Durliat each and every detail has made the Grace Bay Club the very special place it is today. “Mark has designed the resort to ensure every facility we have in the resort from the rooms to the swimming pools, the restaurants and the bars are on the most beautiful beach in the world,” he added.

A member of Leading Hotels of the World, Grace Bay Club offers guests a uniquely hands-on travel experience with a focus on luxury and service. A quiet haven for uninterrupted relaxation, the 82-suite resort is divided into two separate sections for discerning travelers of all tastes including: the adults-only Hotel at Grace Bay Club area with private restaurant, bars and swimming pool in addition to the family-friendly Villas at Grace Bay Club with their own restaurant, bar and pool. In February 2009, the resort welcomed The Estate at Grace Bay Club, a collection of 22 lavish residence style accommodations complete with a private infinity pool, poolside cabanas, personal concierge service and gourmet restaurant Krave.

“We are very fortunate to have good people, a great beach and island, and a country that really believes in tourism,” Advani said.

In February 2011, both jetBlue and Continental Airlines announced direct flight routes to Providenciales from New York City, Boston and Newark, again confirming the growing popularity of the destination.

Other top marks awarded to the property in recent years include Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice ‘Best in the World’ Award in 2010, and Travel + Leisure’s ‘500 World’s Best Hotels’ Award in 2010 and 2011.

Excerpt from Virtuoso Life March 2011

10 Sublime Beach Resorts
By Larry Olmsted

The country’s top travel advisors share where they’re sending their clients for the best beach getaways.

Take a tip from those who know, pack your swimsuit, and head for one of these sandy sanctuaries.

No other feature is more symbolic of escape, and none affects the quality of your warm-weather vacation as much as a beach, so if you’re seeking a sojourn in the sun, look for one of the world’s best stretches of sand – with a high-end resort to match. We asked Virtuoso travel advisors to recommend some of their favorites. Here are a few standouts to consider next time you get a hankering for sand between your toes, tropical drinks under thatched umbrellas, and the sound of lapping surf.

1. GRACE BAY CLUB, TURKS AND CAICOS

CARIBBEAN COOL Sailors love the Turks and Caicos, an archipelago of 40 mostly uninhabited islands, for their calm, shallow, and impossibly vibrant turquoise waters, which caress miles of unspoiled beaches, including the one at the 81-suite Grace Bay Club. The resort caters to families with The Villas, to couples with the adults-only main hotel, and to those seeking the utmost in white-glove service with its 22 new house-size residences at The Estate. Grace Bay is convenient to Providenciales’ downtown tourist haven, but with its half-dozen bars and restaurants, including Anacaona (the island’s best), the Anani Spa, and the extensive Kids Town, there’s no need to leave. Doubles from $720, including breakfast daily and Champagne and fruit on arrival.
ADVISOR TIP: “Grace Bay has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. The newly opened residences offer top-of-the-line luxury. And a martini at the Infiniti Bar is a must.”

Others who made the list
2. Four Seasons Resort LĀna’i AT Manele Bay, Hawaii
3. Cap Juluca, Anguilla
4. Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia
5. Rosewood Mayakobá, Mexico
6. St. Regis BahÍa Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
7. Montage Laguna Beach, California
8. Watercolor Inn & Resort, Florida
9. Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, French Polynesia
10. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

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Tuesday, 29 March 2011 10:48

Written by staff of fp Turks & Caicos