Antigua’s Hermitage Bay re-opens following in depth renovation

Hermitage Bay, the extremely acclaimed, laid-back, luxurious resort nestled on the rolling hillside of Antigua’s west coast, is about to open its doorways once more on 1 November, 2024, following a multi-million greenback renovation venture. 

The property has been lately inducted to the Small Luxurious Inns of the World portfolio, a group of 570+ boutique motels in over 90 international locations that supply one-of-a-kind, secluded, and discrete lodging with premium requirements of luxurious and visitor wellbeing for the aware and discerning traveller. 

Now below the possession of worldwide hotelier, Daniel Shamoon of Luxurious Inns Companions, the resort retains all of the attraction that established it as a Caribbean gem whereas providing impressed enhancements, together with 30 totally redesigned visitor villa suites, an elevated variety of personal swimming pools, refreshed spa and newly landscaped gardens. The visitor expertise has been reinvigorated with a brand new seaside membership idea and bar, and a number of charming actions that align with the pure vitality and rituals of the vacation spot. 

Set on 140 acres of lush tropical gardens over-looking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, Hermitage Bay has retained all of the genuine hallmarks that captivate its friends, while elevating the general hospitality expertise. The renovation was thoughtfully carried out by identical crew behind a number of of Shamoon’s different properties, together with the famed Puente Romano Seashore Resort in Marbella, Nobu Marbella and Nobu Marrakech. The design aesthetic completely captures the soul of the Caribbean, while mixing in modern touches wanted by the trendy traveller.

“For almost 20 years, Hermitage Bay has rightfully earned its repute as a real Caribbean jewel,” mentioned Shamoon. “By carefully collaborating with the skilled crew on the bottom, this renovation permits us to revive the magic and the soul of Hermitage Bay while including a contemporary contact and making certain its future legacy as a world class vacation spot to rival not solely different luxurious Caribbean resorts, however motels everywhere in the world. Along with welcoming again a lot of its loyal friends, we’re assured that Hermitage Bay will appeal to a brand new era of seasoned travellers looking for a luxurious life-style expertise in one of many Caribbean’s most stunning locations.”

Hermitage Bay’s redesign honours the resort’s distinctive cove-ensconced setting and is guided by the blended precept of ‘Ubuntu’, or ‘I’m since you are’ – reflecting the property’s imaginative and prescient to unite the vitality of individuals and place. Rachel Browne, very long time Basic Supervisor of Hermitage Bay, has labored carefully with the venture crew to conceptualize and convey the brand new Hermitage Bay to life.

“Hermitage Bay is a very particular and soulful resort,” mentioned Browne. “Our distinctive workers, a lot of whom are Caribbean nationals, are devoted to offering world class, heat and welcoming luxurious hospitality. We’re wanting ahead to welcoming each returning friends and new guests to expertise the renovated property and faucet into the colourful vitality of Hermitage Bay.”

Hermitage Bay can also be proud to uphold its Inexperienced Globe certification, reflecting its sturdy dedication to sustainable tourism by eco-friendly and community-driven initiatives. From the resort’s on-site natural backyard that gives recent produce for friends, to its water-saving bathe system, and the Hermitage Bay Caring Basis supporting weak and deprived members of the Antigua neighborhood, the resort is dedicated to significant sustainability in each facet of its operations.

Hermitage Bay highlights embrace:

Re-designed villa suites:  Every of the resort’s 30 villa suites have been thoughtfully redesigned with a give attention to brightening interiors and maximizing al-fresco dwelling.  The villa suites are both located throughout the lush hillside or simply steps from the seaside, designed to offer full privateness and immerse friends of their pure environment. Every villa suite ensures that friends really feel proper at dwelling of their personal sanctuary, that includes expansive wrap-around verandas with views over the Caribbean, a lot of which embrace their very own swimming pools and outside showers.

The resort affords three suite classes: 

•  9 Beachfront Villa Suites – Located on raised stilts and fringed by leafy palm timber, these split-level suites are situated proper on the white sands of Hermitage Bay’s seaside, offering friends direct seaside entry. 
•  4 Backyard Pool Villa Suites – Surrounded by verdant tropical gardens and with views over the ocean, the Backyard Pool Villa Suites provide split-level al-fresco dwelling simply steps from the bay. 
•  17 Hillside Pool Villa Suites – Perched excessive on the cliffside and tucked into the gardens with sweeping views over the bay, every of the Hillside Pool Villa Suites affords unparalleled privateness, a favorite selection for honeymooners and people on the lookout for a peaceable island retreat.

New Culinary Experiences

Hermitage Bay has enhanced its culinary providing with the addition of two new ambient and upbeat ideas, together with an upgraded expertise at its important restaurant.

New Seashore Membership:  This convivial grill restaurant located proper on the seaside will provide energetic beachside eating the place friends are invited to spend the day savouring seasonal, freshly sourced, native fare and craft cocktails, relishing within the laid-back environment, and having fun with rousing performances from native entertainers.  

Tree Bar: The beachfront Tree Bar is about below the cover of an historical tree with thatched wicker chandeliers hanging from its branches. That includes a rounded bar constructed across the tree’s trunk, with high-back wicker seating, streamers of sea glass threaded all through the timber, and ambient music, Tree Bar is the right place to get pleasure from a Hermitage Rum Punch and socialize with different resort friends whereas the solar units.

Pool Bar: The coated poolside bar affords friends a relaxed and pleasant ambiance to imbibe in refreshing cocktails masterfully crafted by mixologist Rodrigo Tartaglia and soak within the breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea that stretch simply past the pool. Each night, the bar transforms right into a serene oasis the place friends can collect, savour distinctive drinks and benefit from the melodies of stay musical artists.

The Restaurant: The signature all-day eating expertise returns with a newly refreshed design providing al fresco desk seating on a picket deck overlooking the seaside. The Restaurant has a relaxed ambiance and it’s right here friends kind lasting bonds with the workers and one another. Each day breakfast options Antiguan conventional dishes akin to cinnamon toast, Caribbean scramble, banana pancakes, specialty porridge, and extra. At lunch, friends can get pleasure from true Antiguan culinary traditions with regionally impressed classics together with spicy crab desserts, curried goat, and mahi mahi, all mainstays of the menu.

Govt Chef Desroy Spence, a local of Antigua, has ensured that the lodge’s culinary choices honour native specialties. Collaborating with famend consultants like Liam Smith-Liang, former Head Chef of Le Petit Maison and Sergio Martinez, former Head Chef of Nobu, who’ve labored carefully with Chef Desroy to design the menus, the meals and beverage experiences at Hermitage Bay replicate the wishes of the worldwide traveller.

New Experiences and Actions

Hermitage Bay has elevated its visitor expertise with a variety of recent experiential and hands-on actions designed to rejoice the spirit of the vacation spot; showcase its pure magnificence and encourage friends to find extra of this stunning island.

In addition to guided farm excursions and weekly cooking lessons, the resort has added an assortment of recent water sports activities, with the addition of two 29ft. and 44ft. velocity boats and an genuine 103ft keep sail schooner.  Friends will have the ability to get pleasure from boat journeys across the island; enterprise on deep sea fishing journeys and sundown cruises; or benefit from the day swimming and snorkelling in hidden island coves.

A brief experience away from Hermitage Bay by helicopter or boat is the secluded island of Barbuda the place friends can get pleasure from a protracted, lazy lunch at sister resort, Nobu Barbuda adopted by a soothing stroll alongside Princess Diana Seashore.

A Refreshed Backyard Spa 

Located throughout the tropical gardens, the Backyard Spa affords breathtaking views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea and the plush, verdant panorama. The spa’s serene setting blends seamlessly with its pure environment, creating an oasis excessive above the shoreline. Friends are greeted by a harmonious fusion of stylish design and pure components, with open-air remedy rooms that invite within the soothing sounds of the waves and delicate sea breezes. The spa’s structure embraces the island’s attraction, that includes natural supplies and a seamless integration with the cliff’s contours.

Signature remedies embrace the Siddhartha Ritual and the Dorissima Shade Ritual, each of which incorporate aphrodisiac-infused merchandise that create a sensual environment. The expertise begins with unique teas and a soothing foot cleanse in heat, fragrant water enhanced with Himalayan salts, adopted by a glass of Champagne. The spa additionally offers a choice of facials, such because the Goldmund Facial Therapy, which makes use of Algae Marine merchandise and incorporates strategies like light facial therapeutic massage, a rejuvenating masks, and a holistic foot therapeutic massage. All companies can be found each onsite and within the privateness of visitor villa suites from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.