The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is already booked out for Christmas 2006.
Olivier Rassinoux, Assistant Manager Silver Palm Lounge, Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman talks business with Communications Director Melissa Perkins in the beautiful Silver Palm Lounge. Photo: Cliodhna McGowan |
And since its opening, almost two months ago, the luxury resort has been experiencing occupancy levels as strong as the resort has been willing to take, said Communications Director Melissa Perkins.
The resort was at 75 per cent occupancy this week, and will be at 100 per cent this weekend.
Next week the hotel’s biggest group booking so far is arriving from a well known large US company. All 365 rooms are booked up by the group, which is also booked into the Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa and The Hyatt Beach Suites.
‘We get a lot of incentive industry travel,’ explained Ms Perkins.
The 365-room resort’s gala opening, featuring a performance by rock star Sheryl Crow and celebrities such as William Baldwin has also served it well, resulting in $10 million worth of coverage in top US media outlets.
Such well-known publications as Entertainment Weekly, People Magazine, OK Magazine, New York Post all featured extensive coverage, along with numerous TV slots.
Another feature on the resort itself appeared just this week in The New York Times, stating that the resort is ‘all about tasteful opulence’. This has been just one of many in a long line of international media reports on the property.
Just recently an NBC crew visited the resort to film a segment for United Airlines’ domestic in-flight viewing on the Ambassadors of the Environment children’s programme. The Butterfly Farm and Black Pearl Skate and Surf Park also feature, promoting Cayman as a family destination. This will run on the airline for the entire month of March.
There are many new highlights coming on stream at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Each Friday night the Silver Palm Lounge comes to life with DJ Alexi and his sounds at ‘After Eight’. Last Friday 400 people turned out for the hot beats. ‘We definitely want this to be somewhere residents enjoy coming,’ said Ms Perkins.
Starting 19 February the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman brunch begins. This includes a caviar station and a seafood centrepiece. The price will be on a tiered structure depending on whether the customer opts for the real champagne on offer from France’s Champagne region. Pricing is still being structured. The brunch is the creation of talented Executive Chef Eric Scuiller, formerly of Paris Las Vegas.
Another new niche service that is picking up by the day is afternoon tea, which is scheduled from 2pm to 4pm Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It can also be booked for any day with 24 hours notice. With an extensive tea menu and anything from pastries to sandwiches, strawberries and champagne it ranges from $20 to $35 depending on what you opt for.
Kiddies will love the teddy bears tea party, available by booking, which is $15 and features special guests – teddy bears in Ritz-Carlton outfits – along with a special down-sized tea set.
Periwinkle by Eric Ripert is the best kept secret on the island, according to Ms Perkins. Some of the delectable savouries there include French fries seasoned in truffle oil, sea salt and parmesan cheese, and simple, yet inventive seafood. Lending a helping hand to the atmosphere are musical duo Chuck and Barrie every Friday and Saturday night.
Restaurants Blue and 7 are popular spots with locals for lunch. However, the one area of confusion has been with parking. While valet parking is available for everyone, at a cost of $7 from the front door, there is lots of available self-parking on the property, with spaces available on the land-side of the property beside the Ambassadors of the Environment building, and many more available just north of this at the next entrance where all the bikes are parked.
Other new features coming on stream soon at the 144-acre property include the golf course which is opening in May. This will only be available for use for guests and residence owners. Designed by Greg Norman, it is slated to be the best nine-hole golf course in the region. The retail store Blue Tip also opens in May.
Alongside the three clay courts already in existence, a grass court opens in May. Tennis courts are for sole use of guests and residence owners.
The Silver Rain spa is doing such good business with guests that local people are having a hard time getting in there. The impressive entrance to this spa is jaw dropping in itself. Depicting water in all its forms, it cost $1 million of the $10 million total of the entire facility.
Also new is Tiffany & Co. boutique on the fifth floor and soon coming is Avenue 5, a retail space of 4700 square feet, opening in late summer.
A retail store for high-concept watersports called ‘Wave’ is scheduled for June.
While Ms Perkins is eager to admit that any newly opening hotel will have some operational issues, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman received only very few minor complaints the week of its gala opening. And this was a true test involving the real critics – celebrities, US journalists and travel agents.
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