A NEW LEVEL OF LUXURY IN CAYMAN

Established in Asia in the 1960s, Mandarin Oriental is one of the leading hotel and resort brands in the world, famed for exceptional dining, transformative spas, and legendary service.

“There are only 34 Mandarin Orientals in the world, and they have more Michelin stars in their restaurants and more Forbes five-star-rated spas, than any other hotel group in the world,” Brian Gooding explains.

That such a prestigious brand has chosen Grand Cayman to debut its first residences in the Caribbean attests to the Cayman Islands’ desirability as a place both to visit and to live.

“This development will raise the bar for luxury in Cayman, but beyond that, it will raise the profile of the Cayman Islands internationally. It will attract visitors and investors who may never have considered Cayman before, but who will come because they know and trust the brand,” Jeremy Hurst adds.

A DEVELOPMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE

“Almost all of Grand Cayman’s luxury development so far has been along Seven Mile Beach,” Hurst observes. “It’s a great area with outstanding properties, but it’s not the experience every buyer is looking for.”

Situated at St James Point, on the south shore of Grand Cayman, the Mandarin Oriental resort will comprise 91 hotel rooms, Mandarin’s famed dining and spa venues, multiple pools, and a limited collection of luxury residences. Framed by rugged ironshore cliffs, the development will enjoy a rare natural elevation overlooking a white sand beach, where a breakwater creates a protected, calm swimming area.

“It’s a unique location, but what is particularly unusual about this development is the size of the site. At over 60 acres, there is an abundance of green space – something you just can’t get on Seven Mile Beach – and the development will remain a low-density one, where residents will find privacy and seclusion, and a sense of being at one with the environment around them,” he adds.

Unlike other beachfront developments, Gooding observes, this will have a tropical appeal, thanks to the site’s dense vegetation, maritime forest, and hiking trails. “It’s a spot that instantly makes your blood pressure drop,” he says. “The location is away from all the hustle and bustle of more developed areas, and yet it’s only 20 minutes from the airport.”

RAREFIELD RESIDENCES

Designed by Hart Howerton with interiors by Meyer Davis, the two, three and four-bedroom Residences are, Hurst says, highly desirable contemporary homes. Occupying the top four and five floors of the hotel towers, all feature high ceilings, walls of glass, and spacious floor plans, with penthouses also offering plunge pools and outdoor kitchens.

“The open concept design and the huge terraces – likely the biggest of any development in Cayman – create that wonderful indoor-outdoor feel. Whereas most beachfront developments are long and narrow with half the bedrooms tucked away at the rear, these Residences are wider than they are deep, ensuring every bedroom has sea views,” Gooding explains.

Most Residences are expected to serve as second homes, and even permanent homes for some. Residences will be fully managed by Mandarin Oriental and owners will have preferred access to all the resort amenities and services, as well as VIP status at Mandarin Oriental hotels around the world.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The advantages of buying pre-construction property are well known in Cayman, and indeed about half of the units in the initial phase have already been spoken for.

The Mandarin Oriental’s past performance the world over provides an even greater incentive for savvy investors. In other markets, Hurst says, Mandarin Oriental Residences are typically sold at a meaningful premium to the luxury property market. “This early opportunity at a great property is why I am buying one myself,” Hurst states.

A BOON FOR THE ISLAND

The Mandarin Oriental is an extremely positive development for the island as a whole, creating jobs and training opportunities for locals whilst also exposing Cayman to a different profile of guest and buyer, whose presence will in turn benefit the local economy.

Timing is everything in real estate, Hurst says, and there is no better time for the leading luxury resort and residence brand in the world to establish a presence in Cayman. “This development will serve to support Cayman’s ongoing development and to reinforce what a desirable place it is to live.”