INTRODUCING A NEW CARIBBEAN DESTINATION – WEST CAICOS RESERVE – OPENING IN 2008

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS, BWI – The most anticipated destination on the Western end of the Turks & Caicos archipelago – West Caicos Reserve - will be unveiled in late 2008.  Located on the once uninhabited island of West Caicos, this environmentally responsible, ultra-luxurious resort community will feature the 125-room Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.  Molasses Reef resort will include three restaurants envisioned by renowned Chef Gray Kunz as well as a full-service spa with open-air pavilions.  Spread across the island’s shores, flanking the resort, will be 75 Ritz-Carlton branded Island Villas, as well as a world-class marina.  Its most sought-after features, however, aren’t man-made:  sublime virgin beaches, brilliant azure waters, 500-acre Lake Catherine and famed Molasses Reef, rumored to be the final resting place of Columbus’ Pinta and ranking among the world’s top dive sites.   West Caicos Reserve will also boast a natural wildlife sanctuary, two national parks and an array of archaeological and cultural sites.  Just six miles southwest of Providenciales, and reachable only by boat, small plane or helicopter, West Caicos Reserve is ideal for those seeking a peerless Caribbean escape that combines barefoot luxury with a genuine sense of place. 

Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is the first property in a new Ritz-Carlton resort brand that will introduce singular boutique resorts in exotic, hideaway destinations.  The resort will include an estate-style main lodge with open-air lobby and dining room and free-form ponds and pools set along a half-mile of pristine beachfront on the island’s northern shore.  Blending traditional Caribbean architecture with English, French, Dutch, and Spanish influences, virtually every aspect of the resort will reflect the area’s rich history, heritage and culture, creating a distinct sense of place for guests and residents. 

Designed by SB Architects with interior design by Wilson & Associates, the design and architecture of the resort will mirror the natural elements of the surrounding environment while maximizing the concept of indoor/outdoor living, with numerous open air spaces offering expansive ocean views.  To protect West Caicos’ abundance of natural resources, the developers conducted a comprehensive ecotourism study led by highly regarded eco-tourism expert Hitesh Mehta of EDSA, the international land-planning firm known for its site-sensitive design approach.  A large percentage of the 11-square-mile island will remain forever undeveloped, while all buildings will be completely low-density, creating minimal impact on the environment.

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