The Cayman Islands drew repeated attention on one of the global hospitality industry’s biggest stages this year, as luxury travel leaders gathered at the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Summit in Monaco.
The annual summit – attended by hundreds of senior executives, hotel owners and general managers from leading global brands – frequently referenced Dart-connected properties during its sessions.
Dart’s hospitality portfolio includes The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman – the only hotel in the Caribbean to hold the Forbes ‘triple crown’ Five-Star ratings for its hotel, spa and restaurant – along with Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, which has earned dual Forbes Five-Star awards for both hotel and spa.
The company’s portfolio also includes the Forbes Five-Star Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla.
Additional properties within the Dart portfolio include Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, Hampton by Hilton Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach, Le Soleil d’Or on Cayman Brac, and Conrad Orlando at Evermore Resort in Florida.
Dart was awarded the Forbes Travel Guide 2025 Owner of the Year, an accolade that Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, said is reserved for ownership groups that understand the importance of investing in people, guest experiences and long-term vision.
“It was a magical event, and it was very inspiring to see the Dart hotels, and especially the jurisdiction, receive so much recognition,” said Enrique Tasende, senior vice president of active investments at Dart Enterprises, speaking of this year’s summit.
“People were probably leaving Monaco asking themselves, ‘What is this Cayman Islands place?’”
For Cayman, Tasende believes the industry attention reinforces the islands’ position as a leading luxury tourism destination in the Caribbean, in keeping with government tourism goals focused on attracting higher-spending visitors.
He said data consistently shows that luxury travellers generate broader economic benefits for destinations.
“It is proven statistically that these guests are better for the economy of the island – they will spend more money,” he said. “They will go everywhere on the island and spend money and mingle with the local community.”
The new face of luxury
During his opening remarks at the summit, emcee Anthony Veneziale recounted a personal stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, describing a highly personalised anniversary celebration arranged by the hotel’s guest relations team, that included photos documenting nearly two decades of his relationship with his partner displayed in balloons throughout the suite.
“It was a goose-bump moment that I will never forget,” he said.
For Tasende, those moments reflect the true essence of what luxury travel means.
“Luxury is evolving,” Tasende said, acknowledging a shift away from traditional ideas of extravagance and more toward experiences that feel authentic and personal.
“Luxury today is about personalisation,” he said. “It’s about arriving somewhere and being recognised, having people know what you like, understanding what kind of experience you want.”
Technology is playing a role in that evolution. Global hotel brands now use guest data systems to track preferences across properties, allowing staff to anticipate details such as room settings, food preferences or special occasions.
Authenticity as luxurious
Tasende said one of the challenges in luxury hotel development is ensuring that properties reflect their surroundings rather than feeling interchangeable with hotels elsewhere in the world.
That approach has become increasingly visible in Cayman’s high-end hospitality sector, where Dart properties combine international brand standards with local cultural influences.
“Sometimes luxury is as simple as watching a sunset,” said Tasende. “Luxury is something that inspires you to be grateful for being alive. … The concept of luxury is moving away from walking into a hotel and having five different choices of pillows. It is all about a curated and crafted experience.”
Maintaining those standards, Tasende said, requires constant reinvention in an industry where new competitors and new concepts are continually emerging.
“In hospitality, you might think you have a winning product,” he said. “Then someone opens something new that changes the market. You have to constantly travel, look at trends and reinvent yourself. We’re super proud of … all of our hospitality assets.”
Editor’s Note: Compass Media Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dart Media and Entertainment.
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