BusinessGrenada.com Issue: 7 2016 -2017 | Page 116

5 Star GrenadaHHHHH HHHHH5 Star Grenada All 64 suites are air-conditioned and come with five-star amenities including wi-fi, a large soaking tub, OLED smart televisions with cable, a DVD player, the softest Italian Frette bathrobes and linen, a mini-bar, iPod docking station, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, direct dial telephone, safe, coffee and tea “ the moment you get beyond 64 rooms you are no longer boutique and you cater to a different type of market. facility, toaster, chaise longues, and a patio or balcony. Several suites even feature a private pool. The resort also provides many facilities, such as a beachside gourmet restaurant for gastronomic indulgence and a well-provided terrace for light lunches, a well-stocked bar that serves drinks throughout the day, a central non-chlorinated swimming pool with swim-up whirlpool, a tennis court, an activity “ and that he has no plans to add more rooms because “the moment you get beyond 64 rooms you are no longer boutique and you cater to a different type of market”. He adds that “the aim and future plans for this resort are just to make it better and better”. The hotel runs at an average annual occupancy rate of about 65%, of which over half are repeat guests, and rises to 92% in peak seasons. centre for children, and a duty- and tax-free boutique shop that sells a comprehensive range of designer clothing, swimwear, footwear, and other accessories. There is also an elite and recently redesigned 5,000sq ft , full-service spa, which enables guests to enjoy the restorative delights of relaxing massage aided by various locally grown plants and spices, such as aloe vera, nutmeg, local citrus and even a scintilating organic chocolate rub! For those who feel the need to maintain a sense of vigour there is a fitness centre featuring state-of-the-art gym equipment, as well as non-motorized water sports including snorkelling, Hobie Cats, and ocean kayaks. The 2015 Winter Season all-inclusive rates range from US$1,106 per night for a single Oleander Garden Suite to US$3,838 for a four-person Cinnamon & Saffron Beach Suite. To learn more about the Spice Island Beach Resort visit the website at www.spiceislandbeachresort.com, email: [email protected], telephone: +1 473 444 4258 or 4423. Grenada’s original 5 Star property which is actually awarded with 6 stars ! BG ISLAND STYLE ELEGANCE very well,” and that the ‘government is trying to put more teeth into GIDC, so they will be a one-stop shop. He adds that “I wouldn’t be where I am today without receiving concessions from the government”. He receives the taxfree concession to improve all the physical assets in the hotel, which is “available to any hotel”. He explains that when a hotel has bought furnishings it can then “buy all new furnishings every five years. It’s called the soft furnishings law,” adding that most hotels have to refurnish after eight years. The Spice Island Beach Resort is, and always has been, very ecologically minded. “I have had solar (power) in my resort since 1987 and it heats all my water in every room,” says Sir Royston. However, this can prove to be costly because “a solar panel will go rusty after every five to eight years. Then you have to replace it. I’m on the sea!” Furthermore, the resort 116 116 ensures its own supply of desalinated water, and Sir Royston explains that it is “the first hotel in Grenada to have a reverse osmosis plant. That was in 1988. So we never run out of water. We are as proficient as they come, because we are all aware of the high cost of electricity”. He continues: “I have energyefficient bulbs in all my rooms. I am exploring alternative energy now, which is very costly,” and mentions that over the last couple of years he has “bought a lot of new air-conditioners with inverter technology where you burn a lot less energy. So I’m in that transformational phase”. He also mentions that “I’m the longest green-room certified hotel in Grenada,” and that he was chairman of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism. Among the 64 rooms of Spice Island Beach Resort, Sir Royston says that there are 34 cottages spread over 1,600 feet of beach www.businessgrenada.com www.businessgrenada.com www.businessgrenada.com 117