One of the Cayman Islands’ premier resorts has gained new recognition that few others in the world can claim.
Forbes Travel Guide awarded The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman’s spa and one of its restaurants with five stars. Combined with the five stars the hotel itself had already earned, the property now has three five-star ratings, the only Caribbean resort to accomplish that, and one of only 13 other properties worldwide to hold this particular distinction, according to Forbes.
General manager Marc Langevin told staff members who had filled the ballroom to celebrate the award on 8 Feb., that the accomplishment was only made possible through their consistent dedication and teamwork.
“We are going to seize and appreciate the moment,” he said.
Pandemic comeback
As Langevin noted, the resort – which is owned by the Dart Group – earned its first five-star rating in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the hospitality industry to a halt worldwide.
He added, “We reopened, and we maintained our five stars thanks to your amazing, amazing dedication to ensuring that we personalised the service and showed genuine care.”
The resort reopened in December 2021, after completing a $50 million renovation and investing in twice-yearly training from Forbes representatives. While star award winners can train to provide the level of service Forbes inspectors seek, they never know when the independent reviewer will be paying a visit.
“It comes down to consistency, and that is the most difficult part,” Langevin said. “You can be good one day, but to be good every day, at all times, in all departments – that is where it takes a lot of inspiration from our staff. I am very proud of them.”
Anything but blue
Keisha Parcells-Robb, the hotel’s director of food and beverage, said the team at Blue by Eric Ripert couldn’t be more thrilled with the five-star recognition.
The restaurant takes pride in its role featuring the best of Caymanian cuisine with a menu that highlights fresh-caught local seafood, she said.
Langevin added he appreciates the long-term partnership of Ripert, who has been involved since the resort opened in 2005.
Despite his fame, the world-renowned French chef has only one other restaurant – the three-Michelin-star Le Bernardin in New York.
As a Caymanian, Parcells-Robb said she is proud of everything the resort contributes to the community, and she hopes residents share in that pride.
“This is the epitome, the ultimate award that you can get in this industry,” she said. “To be able to say that we’re the first in the entire Caribbean to be able to showcase this award is really spectacular.”
She encouraged young Caymanians to consider applying for a job with the resort.
Hotel manager Laura Jarvinen said she started her hospitality career in housekeeping, and appreciated that the resort creates opportunities for staff members to learn and advance.
Langevin said he believes it is the care that staff take in personalising each visitor’s experience that helped it secure its five-star rating. He said resort-wide harmony is imperative considering any of the about 900 staff members could be the one serving a Forbes inspector.
Fellow awardees
Two other local hotels were also singled out by Forbes this year.
Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa – also owned by the Dart Group – received five stars, as did The Spa at Seafire.
“From the incredibly welcoming staff to thoughtful touches like a personal card and gift in your room, morning coffee and tea on the house and the sanity-saving kids camp, the Kimpton Seafire makes you feel at home,” Forbes wrote.
Inspectors highlighted the spa’s Turkish bath services that include essential oil steams, volcanic ash exfoliations and mud detox treatments.
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa received the distinction of ‘recommended’ for 2024. Forbes noted the $50 million renovation the hotel completed in 2017, which included room upgrades and a revamped freshwater pool.
The inspector appreciated the resort’s Hibiscus Spa as well as its seven restaurants and bars, but especially the new Catboat lobby bar.
“With its curvy design and leather top, [the bar] is a looker, but the scene stealers are attentive bartenders who’ll take the time to get to know you before customising a drink that’s just right for the occasion,” the inspector wrote.
Editor’s Note: The Cayman Compass is a subsidiary of Dart Media and Entertainment.
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