TravelPulse Q&A: One on One with Grenada

Grenada has long been known as the Caribbean’s Spice Isle for its production of fragrant aromatics such as cinnamon, cloves and allspice. But the flavors of Grenada go well beyond the island’s locally produced edibles. Annual events like the Carriacou Regatta, taking place August 2 to 5 this year, and Grenada’s Carnival, known as SpiceMas, to be held August 12 to 13, are proving a hit with visitors across the economic spectrum.

After all, Grenada recorded in excess of 500,000 visitor arrivals in 2018, up 12.9 percent year-on-year. Plus, promotions like this summer’s relaunch of the #NextStopGrenada campaign offer visitors specials on room rates as well as special room upgrades and perks like complimentary massages during Grenada’s extended summer season. But with the recent opening of the luxury resort Silversands Grenada and the announcement of a new Kimpton resort, the spotlight has been on the country’s luxury travel offerings.

Here, Grenada Tourism Authority’s CEO Patricia Maher discusses how these two new resorts –and other additions and enhancements to Grenada’s luxury offerings—cater to well-heeled, contemporary travelers, many of whom are already acquainted with this Caribbean escape.

What prompted the development of the Silversands Grenada and the Kimpton Kawana Bay Grenada Resort?

Silversands Grenada opened on Dec. 18, 2018, and for us, the property is a new high-end luxury, but also very modern luxury and very designer luxury. It’s not just new for Grenada, but it’s new for the Caribbean and it compliments the luxury experiences that we already offer. The new Kimpton Kawana Bay Grenada Resort will open in 2020 and it’s expected to open in phases. So the first 100 rooms will open next year. The hotel will have an absolutely amazing view, perched on a hill overlooking Grand Anse Beach with rainforest in the background. The hotel will also be a very good development for us when it comes to the luxury market.

Do you expect these two resorts to help spur more luxury travel to Grenada and possibly even more luxury resort development?

They have already spurred more growth in the luxury market. Earlier this year, it was announced that the Grenadian by Rex Resorts, will undergo a renovation before becoming a Royalton Resort, part of BlueDiamond Resorts, when it reopens this coming December. That investment was made subsequent to the Silversands and Kimpton developments and now Range Developments, which specializes in the development of luxury resorts in the Eastern Caribbean, announced they will develop two very high-end resorts in Grenada. The first will be a Six Senses La Sagesse, part of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. We don’t currently have any luxury properties in that particular area of Grenada and Range will also open a second luxury property. Both resorts will open in 2022.

Could you talk about some of the experiences that luxury travelers can have while visiting Grenada?

You’re spoiled for choice in terms of what to do in Grenada. We have fine dining. Calabash’s restaurant is right up there with Michelin standards and then Spice Island Beach has Oliver’s Restaurant that wins awards year after year. Secret Harbor has a wonderful French restaurant. Silversands has two restaurants on property. The list is endless. But the beauty of what Grenada offers is that we’re not just a beach. We have a lot of nature-based activities and a lot of agricultural production that gives us a rich selection of local products like cocoa and spices.

We’re known as the Spice of the Caribbean because of the nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon trees that are found throughout the country. These local flavors are also infused into our cuisine. So our very high-end dining experiences also reflect our local products and that’s what today’s luxury traveler is looking for. Discerning travelers can also explore our many waterfalls and in St. Andrew parish, visitors can go with a local company. Also, all of our luxury resorts have high-end spas, like the spa at our wellness resort Laluna. So you can really customize your experience in Grenada. We have serious adventure and we have soft adventure.

Our visitors can also experience our local farms like Belmont Plantation on the north of the island in St. Patrick Parish. We call it a plantation because it’s more than just a farm. You can see the herbs and spices that they grow there, but they also produce goat cheese and now, they’re making chocolate as well. So you can see the cocoa growing on the trees, how they harvest it and how they produce amazing sustainable chocolate that also has local spices in it. –And Belmont is just one example of what we offer throughout the island. You can also visit the niche chocolate company Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate and take a personalized tour with the owners who will teach you about local cocoa farming as well as how they make Grenadian chocolate.

Do you expect all of these new luxury resorts to attract more yachters to Grenada?

Last year, we welcomed 24,281 yacht visitors, up more than 10 percent year-over-year. For the first quarter of this year, we’re up 5 percent and still growing. Grenada ticks all the boxes for yachters. We’re right here in the southern Caribbean where it’s safe and peaceful and they have access to the Grenadines as well as all the facilities they could need and want. We have ten marinas and five boatyards and can accommodate every boat type and style.

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We also offer safe yacht storage, high-class refit and maintenance work. Boatyard capacities range from 50 to 250 boats, with most providing accommodation and on-site restaurants and bars. The largest marina, Camper and Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina, has 160 berths and caters up to 300-foot yachts. Another 90 berths will be added by this August. Secret Harbour Boutique Hotel, Restaurant & Marina completed renovations of its 20 cottages earlier this year, so they all have a new chic design now.

The restaurant, Sel et Poivre, was also taken over by a chef from France who’s created a fusion of local Grenadian ingredients with French cuisine. Plus, the marina has 53 slips and caters to yachts of up to 200 feet. But yachters who want to explore more of Grenada have many luxury options like Silversands Grenada as well as Spice Island Resort, which is a AAA Five Diamond property, and the Relais & Chateaux property Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel.

How does Grenada work with travel agents?

We work very closely with travel agents. We attend agent forums and make sure we have agents at our shows when we go out to market the destination. We also have an online learning platform for travel agents.

We’ve also just hired a sales rep in the U.S. to join our sales director. His name is Kevin Thompson. He’s Grenadian by birth and he will join our US sales director to spend more time with travel agents to make sure they know what’s happening in Grenada and keep them up-to-date on new developments and all of the news we have to share. His email is USASales@puregrenada.com.