Taking service excellence to the next level

When booking their Caribbean getaways, travellers want certainty about the quality of the property where they will be staying and a guarantee of the highest level of guest service. Dart’s portfolio of hospitality properties in Anguilla and the Cayman Islands have a track record of meeting and exceeding those standards, which have been affirmed in the latest Forbes Travel Guide ratings.

Forbes Travel Guide - the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises – on 7 February unveiled its 2024 Star Awards. Among those taking home accolades were three Dart-owned resorts, along with accompanying spas and a highly acclaimed fine-dining restaurant led by one of the most recognised and respected names in the culinary world.

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, became the first and only property in the Caribbean and one of only three on this year’s list to attain triple Forbes Five-Star status along with Blue by Eric Ripert, its fine dining restaurant from the celebrated chef, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Grand Cayman a 20,000-square-foot ultra-modern sanctuary.

Forbes inspectors noted that “when you aren’t on the pristine beach, you’ll want to spend your time at Silver Palm, the lobby lounge that gets its name from the Cayman Islands’ national tree” and that while Blue by Eric Ripert the undisputed culinary attraction at the Grand Cayman hotel, there are other gastronomic gems including Taikun and Andiamo. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Grand Cayman is a tropical sanctuary that “offers all the desired treatments of a full-service facility — including deep tissue, hot stone and aromatherapy massages,” Forbes inspectors said.

“Walking into Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, you’re immediately struck by stunning, panoramic ocean views and a canopy of palm trees as far as the eye can see. In an instant, you know you’ve found paradise and it comes with all the modern comforts you could dream of,” Forbes Travel Guide noted of the resort on the world famous Seven Mile Beach that received the prestigious Five-Star rating for the second straight year, which also features an inviting Library by the Sea cocktail bar that has been winning rave reviews globally, fine dining options like Ave and Avecita and more casual eateries like the beachside Coccoloba.

When it came to the Spa at Seafire, which also got a Five-Star rating, Forbes Travel Guide inspectors said: “the design features at the spa are not just for show — many elements are used in treatments to provide natural, restorative healing.”

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla provides modern enchantment featuring a Mediterranean design and appearance and is one of the flagship properties in that tranquil Eastern Caribbean destination. Guests can settle into spacious accommodations, 80% of which feature picturesque ocean views. This is the second consecutive Five-Star rating since being acquired by Dart in mid-2022.

“We’re delighted that properties across our portfolio receive these very impressing ratings. This is a testament to what we set out to do – create and maintain exceptional spaces that provided exceptional service,” said Enrique Tasende, Dart’s senior vice president of active investments and hospitality asset management.

 “Working closely with different management teams across these distinctly diverse properties to ensure a quality experience and the highest levels of hospitality delivery at all these properties is key. Our role is to create the environment where highly skilled professionals are able to make their guest feel welcome in luxurious comfort and we are delighted for the staff at all these properties, as they provide an important aspect of the visitor experience,” Tasende added.

Dart’s FTG Five-Star rated properties and the destinations in which they are located will realise many benefits, such as promotion through Forbes.com, forbestravelguide.com and their social media channels, including Instagram, where @forbestravelguide is the #1 independent luxury hospitality account.

With other properties in its portfolio, Dart also provides training opportunities to young Caymanians through the Dart Hospitality Training Programme in a bid to encourage more young people to consider viable careers in the industry as they receive paid on-the-job experience as part of the three-month programme now in its third year. Young professionals at its properties in Anguilla and the Cayman Islands have had the opportunity to also participate in work exchange programmes to broaden their exposure as they build on careers grounded in service excellence.