Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced yesterday that it has signed an agreement with Eleuthera Properties, Ltd., a company chaired by prominent Bahamian businessman, Franklyn R. Wilson CMG, to develop Cotton Bay Villas.
The exclusive new resort will be a member of Starwood’s prestigious Luxury Collection, the company said in a release.
Evoking images of a nostalgic and bygone era, the magnificent 1,500-acre project will be unveiled in two phases with Phase I comprising of two and three bedroom villas, 114 estate lots and a spectacular 26,000-square foot Clubhouse, the release said.
The soft opening is scheduled for December 2006 with 25 premier beachfront units and Clubhouse with full amenities and services and a private marina. Completion of the 73-guestroom resort is scheduled for December 2007.
Future phases will include an 18-hole championship golf course, wellness center/spa, additional real estate development and expansion of the marina.
Eleuthera is approximately 100 miles long and less than one mile wide. The island is a destination for an elite clientele and home to many international celebrities with access to New Providence and South Florida by commercial air carriers and private jets, the release also said.
Cotton Bay derives its name from the term “to cotton”, a local term that refers to a “place where people befriend one another while being at peace with nature.”
“We are thrilled to have our first Luxury Collection property in The Bahamas located on Eleuthera – considered one of the most exclusive addresses in the world,” said Stephen Alden, senior vice president of The Luxury Collection.
“The island’s natural scenic beauty and lush vegetation make Cotton Bay Villas an ideal destination for the discerning leisure traveler looking for the ultimate vacation experience. Cotton Bay Villas will evoke a casual elegance, combining simplicity with island style to create a distinctively elegant atmosphere along with the impeccable service that is the hallmark of The Luxury Collection.”
The release said Cotton Bay Villas will feature a spectacular octagonal enclosed pavilion situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic, the perfect venue for weddings and social events.
The Clubhouse will include a Bahamian-fusion restaurant featuring a well-renowned island chef. Guests at the resort will have access to two small, private islands which feature a 20-acre bird sanctuary and a seven-acre secluded beach.
Owners and guests at the resort will have preferred access to the resort’s private marina in Davis Harbour, accommodating yachts up to 70 feet. Only minutes away, guests will enjoy world-class fishing grounds and phenomenal scuba diving, snorkeling and other recreational water sports, the release said.
It added that this spectacular new resort is currently part of the Audubon International Signature program, which acknowledges environmentally-friendly developments.
As a member of this program, Cotton Bay Villas will be home to a plant nursery and an on-site horticulturist dedicated to nurturing the property, saving trees and other foliage from cleared land for replanting throughout the development.
Environmental integrity as well as economic viability will ensure that the island’s unique ecological systems and scenic landscapes will be preserved for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, according to the company.
To sophisticated travelers worldwide, The Luxury Collection delivers the finest hotel experiences through their unparalleled attention to their guests’ needs and preferences, their exceptional and distinctive properties and seamless integration of the customs, culture and environment of each property’s locale.
Members of Starwood’s Luxury Collection include such world-class hotels and resorts as the Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice; The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona; Hotel Imperial, Vienna; Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy; and, Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, French Polynesia.
Guests staying at Cotton Bay Villas will also be able to earn their way toward free travel through the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, consistently rated the best hotel frequency program in the world.
With more than 700 participating hotels and resorts around the world, the program is the industry’s most global and offers a structure focused on simplicity and flexibility in redemption options and inclusion of all Starwood’s brands.
From: The Bahama Journal
