Author: erikawithak

This article first appeared on Cayman Compass.

NCB partners with Hilton to bring a Curio Collection by Hilton property to the Cayman Islands. Slated to open in 2022, the new-build 80-room, 90-key hotel in George Town will attract a new era of tourism to the Cayman Islands as Grand Cayman’s first luxury wellness and business boutique hotel.

Upscale hotel brand Curio Collection by Hilton has agreed a deal with Caymanian developer NCB group to operate its new George Town hotel.

The 80-room hotel, under construction at the site of the old Treehouse Restaurant opposite Kirk Market, is scheduled to open in 2021.

Curio Collection is part of the Hilton Hotel and Resorts company. Its hotels are operated by Hilton but retain their own identity.

The Cayman property is being marketed as a wellness hotel featuring a mix of one to three-bedroom suites and a focus on healthy living. It will include two “farm to table” restaurants, a gym, spa and conference facilities as well as executive and penthouse suites with their own private pools.

Juan Corvinos, vice president of development for Hilton in the region, said in a statement, “As tourist arrivals in the Caribbean continue to increase, we have prioritized the region in our larger expansion efforts with Hilton’s first property in Grand Cayman. In partnership with NCB Group, we are working toward embodying a retreat that caters to the needs of today’s discerning travelers that prioritize wellness while at home and abroad.”

Matthew Wight, managing director of the NCB group, said the developer was elated to secure an “industry leader” like Hilton as a partner for the project – the first major tourism development in George Town for decades. He said Curio hotels retained their individuality while benefiting from the association with Hilton.

Through this alliance we will be delivering an innovative wellness tourism product that also caters to the discerning business traveler.

The project is focusing on sustainability and targeting health and environmentally conscious travelers. It is marketing energy efficient technology, in-room yoga mats, fitness equipment and “lighting that regulates circadian rhythms” among its attributes. There will also be bicycles and electric vehicles for guests to rent.

Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell welcomed the deal Thursday, saying the new hotel would help the Cayman Islands meet the growing demand for luxury accommodation.

This property will brighten the tourism activity in the heart of George Town, and we welcome this new hotel brand to our island.

Rosa Harris, director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, said the project would bring a “one-of-a-kind boutique property” to Cayman.

The NCB Group says sustainable practices will be integrated into the design and operation of the hotel, including the use of renewable energy, LED lighting and energy-efficient building practices.

The hotel will be a part of Hilton Honors, the guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 16 brands.

This article first appeared in the Cayman Compass.

NCB launches its latest sustainable residential development, AURA, a stunning retreat of only 39 two and three-bedroom condos with views of South Sound. This new waterfront community was designed by award-winning architect Robert Towell and features breathtaking ocean views from every residence.

The NCB Group has been granted permission for a new condo complex in Prospect as Cayman’s residential building boom continues.

The developer was granted approval for 39, two- and three-bedroom condos in its latest project, known as AURA. The development, on Shamrock Road, will feature a 60-foot diameter circular pool, three oceanfront cabanas, a gym, private dock, barbecue area and children’s playground. It also features rooftop solar panels and a geothermal cooling system as part of an environmentally friendly design, according to the developer.

An architect’s rendering shows an elevated view of the new NCB development

The Central Planning Authority approved the project earlier this month.

Matthew Wight, CEO of the NCB Group, said population growth and demand for new housing was driving the recent building boom. He expects that trend to continue.

“The Cayman Islands real estate market is incredibly stable and continues to strengthen year after year. With an anticipated population growth of 11,000 people in the next 10 years, bringing the total population to 75,000, there is no indication that the market will slow down.”

“In fact, we are currently experiencing a housing shortage which provides us, as developers, with the confidence to continue to deliver quality residential projects to meet this demand.”

The South Sound, Red Bay and Prospect areas appear to be the main centers of growth in the residential market. Several new developments are still under construction on South Sound, though lack of space is limiting future growth in that area.

There are multiple developments under way in and around the Grand Harbour area in Prospect, including the $80 million Periwinkle project.


Interior rendering of one of oceanfront two-storey condos at AURA

Mr. Wight said the AURA development had received “tremendous interest,” with 11 units currently under reservation. The company hopes to pre-sell all units before construction begins in January 2019.

He said the sustainable design and the oceanfront location were among the development’s key attributes.

NCB is also working on a wellness and business hotel opposite Kirk Market and has agreed to a partnership with Dart for a new residential community in Camana Bay.

This article first appeared in the Cayman Compass.

NCB announces its-first ever hospitality venture, a new luxury hotel condo ideally situated between George Town and Seven Mile Beach. This boutique hotel’s 60 suites include one, two- and three-bedroom options are now available for lucrative investment opportunities and future owner benefits.

A 60-unit boutique hotel is planned on the site of the old Treehouse restaurant opposite Kirk supermarket in George Town.

NCB Investments bought the land in December and this week submitted plans to build a five-story hotel, restaurant and café with a pool and swim-up bar.

Architect’s rendering of proposed swim up bar 

Matthew Wight, managing director of NCB Group, said the hotel would be in the four-star range and aimed at a mix of business and leisure tourists. He said the site, close to the capital, Camana Bay and Seven Mile Beach, is ideal for a boutique hotel.

“As far as I know, this is the first new hotel in George Town for a very long time and we hope it will be part of a wider revitalization.”

The developer is in talks with possible brands but is also considering operating the hotel itself with a management company.

Mr. Wight said it would likely have a “wellness” element, featuring a gym, spa and juice bar.

“We recognise there is a gap in the market for that type of approach and it is an angle we are working on,” he said.

The hotel will also feature conference rooms and other facilities for business visitors.

The property, between the Dixie Cemetery and the Coral Sands condos, features a mix of rugged ironshore coastline and a small sandy cove.

The plans were submitted to the Central Planning Authority this week. NCB hopes to break ground on the project before the end of the year and is aiming to be open in 2019.

The 60 units will be sold individually. Owners will get two weeks’ stay each year and a share of the proceeds from renting the units to tourists.

Hotel development is a new direction for NCB, which has typically worked on condos and apartments aimed at residents.

NCB is currently in mid-construction on TIDES, a luxury residential development on South Sound.

Rendering of a two bedroom executive condo at the hotel