There’s something very special about a boutique hotel. It’s not just the size — it’s the connection between hotelier and guest, the intimacy of the design, the way it becomes more than just a hotel – it becomes a work of art.

Boutique hotels have a way of transcending the business of hospitality; done right, they are a creative expression of their owners, teeming with the kind of personality and soul that you will seldom find at a large resort.

And when it comes to boutique hotels in the Caribbean, it’s another level. There are a staggering number of small hotel properties across the region, from beachside retreats to hillside outposts to urban art hotels. It is an impressive collection of hotels that is only getting better.

With our first-ever Caribbean Boutique Hotel Awards, we want to celebrate the best of the Caribbean’s small hotels, the unforgettable properties that are some of the most authentic, warm and fascinating places to stay anywhere on earth.

Nobody covers the Caribbean hotel industry better than Caribbean Journal, and our team continuously scours the region to uncover the best-kept secrets and standout performers in the region’s hospitality sector.

That’s precisely what we did in the inaugural CBHA, selecting winners in 11 different categories from the Boutique Hotel of the Year to the Boutique Hotelier of the Year. To be eligible, a hotel must have fewer than 50 rooms.

“It’s high time that these small jewels of the Caribbean travel industry be honored for their remarkable contributions to the region,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal. “In many ways, the Caribbean’s boutique hotels make the region the unbeatable global destination that it is today. We are honored to celebrate the best boutique hotels in the Caribbean with this first-ever Caribbean Boutique Hotel Awards.”

Congratulations to all of the winners.

Boutique Hotel of the Year: Baoase Luxury Resort, Curaçao This 23-room stunner isn’t just the leading boutique hotel in the Caribbean right now — it’s one of the most impressive properties in the region, period. From its outstanding Balinese-style design to ultra-attentive service to its remarkable gastronomic offering, Baoase has become the halo hotel in Curacao and a new level of boutique experience in the Caribbean region. “The Baoase has an uncanny level of quality that is an example for hotels across the Caribbean,” said Caribbean Journal Managing Editor Guy Britton. “It’s a truly world-class resort in a boutique package.”