If you thought last year’s slate of new hotels in the Caribbean was impressive, you’re in for quite the treat in 2019.
The region is welcoming a remarkably diverse collection of hotels and resorts this year, from luxury small-island boutiques to gleaming new all-inclusives.
The biggest star for 2019? What seems to be the Caribbean’s newest hotel hotspot, Dominica, which has three hotels on this list (along with a signfiicant renovation of a fourth hotel, the Fort Young)— sending a big message to the travel world a little more than a year after last year’s storms.
We’ve put together a list of our favorite new debuts for 2019, including some properties that launched at the very end of 2018 and others that are coming on stream in the months ahead.
Where will you be checking in next?
Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica Easily the most exciting new property set to open in 2019, this will be Kempinski’s first hotel in the English-speaking Caribbean, following its 2017 debut of the spectacular Gran Hotel Manzana in Havana. The new Dominica hotel, which will be set outside Portsmouth on the northern tip of the island, will have 160 rooms, a spa and sweeping gardens, among other amenities. Another reason to be excited? It’s the latest project from Range Developments, responsible for the stunning Park Hyatt St Kitts.
Anse Marcel.
Secrets St Martin Set at the former Riu Palace in Anse Marcel, this AMResorts project will be a major addition to the island, marrying the company’s signature all-inclusive excellence with French Caribbean charm. The adults-only, 350-room resort is perched on one of the most beautiful beaches in St Martin.
O:LV Fifty Five, Puerto Rico This new addition to San Juan’s hopping Condado district is the most gorgeously designed hotel we’ve seen in quite a while. The OLV, which opened at the end of December, is the brainchild of Loisse Herger and her husband Fernando Davila, who also own the stylish O:live Boutique Hotel just steps away.
Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Playa Hotels and Resorts has in a short time become one of the region’s dominant all-inclusive companies, and now it’s heading into the most exclusive corner of the Dominican Republic. The adults-only and family friendly Zilara and Ziva resorts are slated to add 750 spectacular rooms to the luxurious corner of Cap Cana, just minutes from Punta Cana Airport, with a tentative third quarter 2019 opening date. Cap Cana will be the third major hub for Playa’s Hyatt Ziva and Zilara brands, following the Mexican Caribbean and Montego Bay.
Hodges Bay, Antigua This new-build, which just opened its doors, is the latest Caribbean expansion for Barbados-based Elegant Hotels. Set on Antigua’s beautiful northern coast, it’s got a mix of 79 rooms, apartments and villas, all with stunning design. Amenities range from an on-site spa to a signature pool deck with views of the coastline.
Silversands, Grenada It’s been online for just about a month, and Grenada’s Silversands boutique hotel is already attracting some of the world’s most sophisticated travelers. There are just 43 suites and nine villas at this Grand Anse Beach perch, with breezy design by Paris-based architects Reda Amalou and Stephanie Ledoux and an impressive range of amenities for a small property.
The poolscape at the S Hotel.
S Hotel Montego Bay Slated to make its long-awaited debut in January, Jamaica’s Crissa Hotels’ second property (along with the popular Spanish Court in Kingston) will set a new standard for the heart of Montego Bay. It’s a hip, sleek 120-room beachfront property that’s a departure from Montego Bay’s more traditional, mostly all-inclusive, hotels. It’s likely to become an instant hotspot.
The Liming Bequia While it’s recent debut flew far under the radar, this is a particularly interesting debut — a tiny luxury boutique in the heart of the Grenadines. The newest hotel in Bequia is the first Caribbean outpost for the ICMI Collection, which operates a portfolio of castles and historic lodges in Scotland. This lusciously designed boutique has a mix of villas and a junior suite, along with a separate “mansion house” with five bedrooms.
Jungle Bay, Dominica It was once Dominica’s premier eco hotel — until Hurricane Maria changed things. Now, the legendary Jungle Bay is being rebuilt and rebranded as the Jungle Bay Eco Villas on Morne Acouma, now a residential resort with a real estate component. The aesthetic will be a modern but authentic one, with bright whites and wood, thanks to typically brilliant design by Caribbean-leading design outfit OBMI. Projected opening? June 2019.
The beach on Playa Esmeralda.
Club Med Miches, Dominican Republic Venerable all-inclusive brand Club Med is taking its highest-level resort classification to the Caribbean, with the new “5-Trident” Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda, set on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. It’s the biggest Caribbean project for Club Med in 40 years, with a planned debut in December.
A rendering of the project.
Anichi Resort and Spa, Dominica Yes, another Dominica hotel, this time a property that will be part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Also in Portsmouth in the north of the country, this Picard Beach resort will have 128 rooms, including suites with private plunge pools, along with a spa, all set on a 12-acre site. It’s slated to launch in December.