The Island:
Providenciales is a beautiful island in Turks and Caicos that is just a quick (2-3 hour) flight from the East Coast.
What makes Providenciales so impressive is the small boutique hotels which minimizes the crowds on the beach. Unfortunately this boutique feel makes this island a tough fit for incentive travel. There is only one 4 Star + hotel that has over 200 rooms and that is an all-inclusive family packed Beaches resort. The average hotel size is around 60 rooms and most are owned condos placed in a rental pool. For small incentive trips under 40 rooms this island is great option with white sand beaches, 18 hole golf course, boating options, serene spas, kayaking trips, windsurfing lessons and endless amounts of culinary options.
Highlights Include:
- World-Class Wall Scuba-Diving
- Grace Bay Beach - White Sand and Crystal Clear Waters
- Winter Whale Watching
- Off-shore Snorkeling
The Options:
For this review we will only focus on resorts that are 4 stars + and contain over 60 rooms.
1: Grace Bay Club
This property is an all-suites hotel with 82 sleeping rooms and one 10,000 square foot meeting room. This property has one adults only pool for 16 and over and a second more lively pool, both opened until 11pm each evening. There is also an additional pool and dining option for the Estates only guests. The dining options are impressive and guests will love the Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar. The bar at Infiniti and the Lounge are open each evening until midnight for memorable sunsets, live music, and drinks by the outdoor fireplaces. Overall Grace Bay Club is my top choice for incentive travel in Turks and Caicos.
2: Gansevoort
This 91 room property has a South Beach boutique feel with a young trendy vibe. The location is perfect on Grace Bay Beach with privacy on one side and a small property on the other. This stretch of beach is the most impressive of all. For those looking for a local gathering on Thursday, the fish fry event is only a 5 minute walk. The pool is a great gathering place for co-workers and the beach has options for snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding and kayaking. You can even swim with an occasional turtle and stingray right off shore. For dining there are only two options each evening and the Zest menu is limited certain nights of the week. A sushi menu is served but only in the Stella Lounge area, it would be great if they started offering that menu at the outside dining area at Stella. Almost all rooms have beach views and great balconies for morning coffees and afternoon sundown cocktails. The rooms look great upon entrance but a few things appeared broken and/or well used. Overall its a great option for incentive travel but be prepared to be limited with food and beverage options.
3: The Palms
This AAA 4 Diamonds property has 72 sleeping rooms and one of the best ranked spas in the Caribbean. Unlike the Gansevoort, The Palms rooms have an airy Caribbean beach feel. The rooms are large in size but there are a decent amount of rooms with Garden views. Similar to Gansevoort the Palms boosts two main restaurants on property with one high end formal dining and the other Plunge, a pool/beach side more casual option. The size of the pool allows for plenty of lounge chairs and shade if needed so the pool area never feels crowded. One major benefit of the Palms is the morning breakfast included for all guests at The Garden with an extensive buffet with omelette stations and more. The Palms target market is an older clientele or those traveling with a family. The millennials would prefer the look and feel of Grace Bay Club or Gansevoort.
4: Como Parrot Bay
This five star, 74 room private island off Providenciales is a world-class experience for those with a generous budget. During the busy seasons Como offers three dining options including a specialized healthy menu called their Shambhala cuisine. You need to travel by boat for transfers from the airport and again if you would like to offer golf to your guests. On site there is a gym, tennis courts, complimentary kayaks and complimentary bikes. Como is a spa resort and therefore offers healthy options and holistic treatments in their impressive retreat facility. If you are looking for a quiet getaway focused on health and wellness versus team bonding then this is it. It is a true five star resort with world-size service but obviously this comes at a cost. So if budget isn't a problem then this is a no brainer.
5: Seven Stars Resort
This property has the most sleeping rooms at 110 but has been the least accommodating for incentive travel requests. Accommodations include one, two, three and four bedroom suites with modern amenities. Seven Stars boosts the only heated salt water swimming pool on island along with cabana rentals and pool-side service. Similar to the other resorts, Seven Star has two dining options on site, one more formal restaurant, Seven and The Deck serves light-fare and cocktails throughout the night.
***** Beaches Turks and Caicos
Almost 800 rooms this property is impressive with endless eating options, multiple pools, water park, constant activity, and a beautiful beach. Only one small problem, there are kids everywhere you look. There is not one pool that is adults-only and less than a handful of restaurants that are adults-only. Even if you try you can't escape the kids as they are everywhere you look. So for this reason we don't recommend it for incentive travel.
Recommendations:
For the right size program with a generous budget there are multiple options that could be a great fit in Turks and Caicos, especially if your group is looking for pure beach relaxation. For young technology companies Grace Bay Beach Club will not disappoint!
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