GraceBayClub

What are the Characteristics of a Five Star Resort?

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about what distinguishes a five star resort from the rest of the pack.

According to our experts, one of the most important features of a five star resort starts with the professionalism of its staff, the people who run the resort and work there. Of course, the quality of the accommodations and other facilities at the hotel in addition to the food are also a major part of the vacation experience, as well.

The best resorts are ones that are unique in some way, with location being a key variable. Lastly, our experts all agree--a resort that has a sense of place and reflects the culture where it is located, is of utmost importance.

"You don't want to go to a resort that stands on its own, in its own little world and doesn't reflect what is going on around it," says Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts in the Turks & Caicos.

In this video, Advani, along with Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

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What's the Best Way to Research a Luxury Vacation?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the best ways to research a luxury vacation.

How important is word of mouth? Do travel agents still play a key role? How important is the Internet in the research process? Are websites, including Facebook and TripAdvisor, gaining in their importance?

Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

Tags: Adam Stewart, AdamStewart, cadillac-pedia, Ed Steiner, EdSteiner, grace bay club, Grace Bay Resorts, GraceBayClub, GraceBayResorts, kerzner international, KerznerInternational, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Nikheel Advani, NikheelAdvani, ocean club, OceanClub, oneonly palmilla, OneonlyPalmilla, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, summer-travel-pedia, winter-travel-pedia

What are the Next Hot-Spots in the Luxury Resort Scene?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Video

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the hot destinations of the future. Their answers may surprise you.

Adam Stewart the chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their vision with Luxist.

Tags: beaches, buenos aires, BuenosAires, grace bat resorts, grace bay club, GraceBatResorts, GraceBayClub, great exuma, GreatExuma, kerznerinternational, luxist-awards, main-pedia, montenegro, ocean club, OceanClub, oneonly palmilla, OneonlyPalmilla, royal plantation collection, RoyalPlantationCollection, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, south africa, SouthAfrica, summer-travel-pedia, summertravel-pedia, winter-travel-pedia

Grace Bay Club Unveils Estates

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

The gorgeous Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos has unveiled plans for The Estate, a collection of 22 "custom-designed ultra-elegant residences" set to debut in November. The luxury resort is building the deluxe dwellings on its prime parcel of 11 oceanfront acres just steps from the beach. Each 4500-sq.-ft. unit will have four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a steam shower, a library/media room and wraparound terraces; floor plans are customizable. The Estate development also includes a multi-tiered oceanfront pool, luxury cabanas and a Personal Concierge program. Prices range from $2.8 million to $5 million-plus for a penthouse.

The luxe all-suite resort is also home to the "longest bar in the Caribbean", which stretches 90 feet across the Grace Bay Club beach with its cabanas and spa tents. Constructed of black marble, the infinity design "creates the illusion that the entire structure is floating above the Caribbean sand and extending indefinitely into the ocean." We're getting thirsty just thinking about it.

Check out the gallery below for more pix and renderings of the Estate project.

Gallery: Grace Bay Club