New $100 million Resort and Marina for Turks and Caicos
A development agreement that will see a new $100 million luxury resort hotel and marina built in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) was signed at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Circle Holdings Limited is developing what it calls an “ultra-luxury” boutique experience on a 17-acre vacant site in Turtle Cove with 775 feet of beach frontage and 1,300 feet of marina frontage on the famous Grace Bay in Providenciales.
The development agreement signed by the TCI government and Circle Holdings is expected to create 300-400 jobs and bring additional tax revenues of around $9 million a year to the TCI government when open.
The project has outline development permission and, subject to final planning approval, is scheduled to start construction in 2015 and open during the 2016/2017 tourist season.
“The travel industry feedback to our plans has been fantastic,” said Vasco N F Borges, owner and CEO of Circle Holdings. "The project will add to the outstanding array of hospitality options in the TCI, by offering the first European Plan luxury resort in Grace Bay, with an unmatched set of amenities and guest experiences. In the coming months, we will be announcing our hotel and marina operating partners, as well as introducing our high-end boutique retail stores.”
The project includes 140 expansive suites, one of the lowest densities in the TCI, including seven signature penthouse suites with dedicated rooftop pools and gardens. Guests and patrons will enjoy a boardwalk along the marina with luxury boutiques and several dining venues, complemented with a seafood restaurant by the beach. Other amenities will include two pools, a casino, a 7,000 sq. ft. high-tech multisport and event facility, a branded spa with lush gardens, a cigar and rum lounge.
“This is a tremendous investment boost to the TCI economy coming just one week after Standard & Poor’s gave this nation a BBB+ credit rating,” said TCI Governor Peter Beckingham. “It shows that the TCI is open for business, provides the stability and confidence that investors require. This announcement certainly bolsters the Islands’ position as one of the most vibrant economies in the region.”
Premier of the TCI, Dr. Rufus Ewing, added, “Following hard on the heels of the Shore Club development, this second major project is providing multi-million dollar investment in the TCI and provides real opportunities our people and businesses.”
Source: Caribbean News Now
