Category: Press release

NCB Group and Acts of Random Kindness Cayman (ARK Cayman) are delighted to announce the completion of their partnered, and entirely privately funded, Tiny Home project for Miss Marva Bodden, who tragically lost her long-time home and possessions in a fire during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a collaboration that leveraged resources, services, industry partnerships, and extensive man-hours from one of Cayman’s leading property developers, NCB Group’s contributions to the project saved ARK Cayman an estimated $70,000.00 of funding. Further savings were made through contributions from key industry players, including significant cash donations from 1503 Property Group and Artex Risk Solutions Ltd, the Tiny Home architect drawings template from Arco Architectural Services, and interior furniture from DMS Broadcasting.

Earlier this week, the project was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Miss Marva at her new home, attended by dignitaries, project partners, and members of the press.

“Miss Marva is a well-loved member of the Cayman community, and her story has touched the lives of many,” said Tara Nielsen, Director of ARK Cayman. “We’re so happy to welcome her into her new home and extend our deepest gratitude to all who contributed to the project’s success. We hope our community and industry partnerships inspire other organisations to support future projects in similar ways.”

“We are incredibly proud to have created meaningful change for Miss Marva and to support future recipients of ARK initiatives with the funds saved now allocated to other projects,” said Matthew Wight, Managing Director of NCB Group. “It was important for us to ensure that anything outside of our cash donation was done at cost value to help the non-profit in the future.”

A nod to yesteryear as Matthew Wight fondly remembers Miss Marva serving popcorn in the old cinema. 

Founded in 2006, ARK Cayman is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting community members in crisis. To date, the organisation has helped hundreds of vulnerable people through its Tiny Home and CASA home improvement projects.

NCB Group is a vertically integrated company with ten service lines, all sharing the mission of ‘Building with Cayman’s future in mind’. The building of Miss Marva’s Tiny Home and support for ARK Cayman were driven by the group’s ‘Corporate Giving Policy’—an annual commitment to create a lasting impact within the Cayman Islands community.

ARK Cayman and NCB Group also extend special thanks to the following organisations and industry partners for their volunteer hours, financial contributions, and building materials, which helped keep construction costs low:

Abernethy and Associates, AL Thompson, Andy Adapa, Betterbuilt, BLU energy, Bon Vivant, Builder Wholesale, C.I. Precast, Cayman Building Supplies, Cayman Electrical Supply Ltd., Cox Lumber Ltd., CSDI, DAC, Ecay Trade, Elite Marble and Granite, FastSigns, Fire Extinguisher Pros, Flowers Group, Godfrey Variety Store, Grand Studio, Growing beauty, IWC, JNB Distributors, Kirk Concrete, Kleanviva, KRK Imports, Massive Group, Millstone, Prado Construction, TCE Paint Shop, Tri-Island, Tropic Taps and Watler & Hislop.

Photo by Mark Chen, Grand Studio

To learn more about Miss Marva’s story and the incredible work by ARK Cayman, visit www.arkcayman.org  or watch the video documentary.

NCB Group recently shared a look inside the model room for its award-winning boutique hotel, Kailani, a Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel, with visiting representatives from Hilton, the hotel partner on the local developer’s first hospitality venture.

Modelled off the business and wellness hotel’s Sea Grape suites, one of 13 room types available for purchase as part of its rental programme, the room has been designed with the future traveller in mind. Blending global inspirations and local influences with cutting-edge sustainable features and modern conveniences, every detail of the suite echoes the “bleisure” concept—the idea that business and leisure travel can co-exist—behind the hotel that is set to bring exceptional new experiences to future guests and value to owners.

“We were thrilled to welcome back some of our key project partners to the Cayman Islands, as we work together to bring a tourism product unlike any other to Grand Cayman,” said NCB Managing Director, Matthew Wight.

A signature trait of the Curio Collection by Hilton brand, every property within the collection has a distinct character and personality, appealing to the passionate traveller seeking local discovery through unique hotel experiences and blending authentically into its locale through its design and use of local materials.

The model room highlights some of the hotel suites’ key design features, including custom-designed wallpaper detailing a coconut’s husk and a credenza inspired by the artwork on Miss Lassie’s house, as well as live greenery ‘art’.

Nods to the Cayman Islands’ unique culture and natural beauty like these have been woven throughout the hotel’s interior design, a collaboration between NCB’s in-house design team and the Florida-based interior design firm, Marzipan, who were also on island for the reveal.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the growing wellness tourism market is expected to reach US$1,127 billion in market size by 2025.

Coupled with modern architecture and smart, intuitive technology, the suites are set to exceed the needs of this new type of hotel guest who wants all the comforts of home, while away from home, thanks to built-in live-work spaces and add-ons like yoga mats in every room and a juice bar on-site.

“Even before the global pandemic influenced the way we travel, we were planning a hotel concept that appealed to a new wave of traveller – one who factors experience, carbon footprint and, most importantly, wellness into their accommodation choices,” explained Wight.

“As new travel trends start to emerge as part of our new normal, we can see that Kailani continues to be on track to offer everything the modern hotel guest is looking for.”

Renewable energy and energy efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing elements have also been integrated throughout the entire hotel, and guest rooms will feature LED lighting, solar water heating and smart cooling functions which significantly lower the hotel’s reliance on the electrical grid. These capabilities form an important part of NCB’s ongoing mission for more sustainable development, as well as the Hilton’s environmental, social and governance strategy, Travel With Purpose.

Savvy investors can capitalise on this innovative hospitality project by buying into the hotel’s rental programme, which sees the hotel owner receiving 50% of the gross annual room rental—a projected net return on investment of over 10%—as well as a host of other owner benefits.

“Just before Cayman closed its borders in 2019, the number of stayover visitors reached 500,000 for the first time,” explained Tania Knapik, NCB Sales & Marketing Manager.

“With the return of tourism earlier this year, that figure is expected to grow as will, inevitably, the demand for hotel inventory and short term rental accommodation, presenting a lucrative opportunity for investors in Kailani compared to other more traditional investment strategies.”

With only 80 guest rooms available for purchase, the hotel is already 50% sold. To learn more about investing in Kailani, visit www.ncbgroup.ky/property/kailani or contact tknapik@ncbgroup.ky for more information.

Cypress Pointe North in Crystal Harbour sells out soon after NCB announces its second phase. One of the most energy efficient communities in the Caribbean, all homes are powered by solar panels, cooled by geothermal technology and constructed with some of the most sustainable building methods and materials on the market.

 

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 on Cayman Compass.

NCB and Dart Real Estate partner to create a new walkable, sustainable community of 124 residences and unrivaled amenities in Camana Bay. The Town’s first for-sale residential community features award-winning features such as a resort-style pool, yoga green and the island’s only lazy river.

Dart Real Estate and NCB Group on Thursday announced they have entered into a joint venture partnership to develop the first residential properties for sale in Camana Bay.

Camana Bay, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in November 2017, already has residential properties for rent, but not for purchase. Initial construction of the new residences is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2019.

Dart and NCB Group will partner to build the development, which will be located south of Camana Bay’s Town Centre and adjacent to Cayman International School. The school will be expanded to double its capacity to 1,100 students by 2020.

“We look forward to collaborating with NCB Group to meet the demand for residential offerings in Camana Bay,” said Jackie Doak, president of Dart Real Estate, in a press release. “This project is another example of the Town Centre’s growth as it continues to cater to those who want to live and work in an amenity-rich community that provides connectivity to the world-class Seven Mile Beach.”

The residential development is expected to offer living spaces ranging from one-bedroom condominiums to four-bedroom townhouses.

TRIO Architecture, a local firm, has been selected to design the project.

The sales campaign for the new residential development is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year, the companies announced.

“We are excited to partner with Dart Real Estate on this innovative and much-anticipated residential community at Camana Bay,” said Matthew Wight, managing director of NCB Group.

NCB has been developing homes and communities of distinction for more than 17 years in Grand Cayman, and we are committed to building with the Cayman Islands’ future in mind. We are fortunate that Dart Real Estate shares this same commitment and look forward to delivering a successful, quality development to the wider community.

Other development work is already under way at Camana Bay. Foster’s broke ground on a new supermarket at the site in May, and the 60,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by November 2019.

“As the Camana Bay community continues to grow with the expansion of CIS, construction of the new Foster’s  supermarket and a planned five-star resort, a joint venture agreement with NCB Group further diversifies the development of the Town Centre at this important juncture in Camana Bay’s history, with its first for-sale residences,” said Justin Howe, Dart’s senior vice president of development.

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

NCB introduces SOLARA, a new sustainable community of luxury town houses in sought-after Crystal Harbour. Joining NCB communities Cypress Pointe and Cypress Pointe North, the 26 new-build three storey, three-bedroom waterfront condos boast a private marina with individual boat slips for direct canal-access to the North Sound.

Read more here.

NCB launches TIDES, a new oceanfront community of 24 luxury condominiums in South Sound. These two to four-bedroom residences range from 1,800 to 3,500 square feet and boast upto 18-foot floor-to-ceiling windows to capture incredible views of the Caribbean Sea.