Tourism

Rock House Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands celebrated staff excellence on October 9, 2026. Winners included Judson Joly, Anne-Rose Delphine, Gizele Antinore, and Derron Campbell. Francessca Lockhart received the inaugural Impact Award for her contributions.

Tickets are officially available for the 16th Annual Caribbean Food & Wine Festival, which brings international chefs and winemakers to the Turks and Caicos Islands from November 3–8, 2026. This six-day charity event features culinary experiences across various venues, culminating in a Sunday brunch to benefit the local community. Co-founded by Nikheel Advani of Grace Bay Resorts and Tony Garland of Wine Cellars, the festival showcases global culinary talent alongside local chefs. Guests can attend events ranging from a Culinary Symposium and the Gourmet Safari to the Turks Head Jerk Festival. “This festival has always been about bringing people together,” said Nikheel Advani. The celebration includes international participants like Chef India, who brings European technique and Caribbean heritage to the event. The festival relies on several partners, including The Ritz-Carlton and Shore Club, to host the diverse schedule of dinners and tastings. Interested attendees can purchase individual event tickets or the Full Festival Experience package for $1,145 per person. The complete schedule and booking information are available at www.winecellar.tc or www.caribbeanfoodandwinefestivaltci.com. Those preferring to book by phone may contact the organizers at 649.232.1594.

Anguilla has received international acclaim in the Condé Nast Traveler 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, with Maundays Bay securing the position of the second-best beach in the world. The ranking, announced on October 14, 2026, also placed the island eighth among the top destinations in the Caribbean and Atlantic regions. Readers provided nearly 800,000 survey responses, helping four local resorts earn spots among the Caribbean’s top properties, including Cap Juluca, Malliouhana Resort, Zemi Beach House, and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla. Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports Cardigan Connor noted that the results reflect the island’s natural attractions and hospitality, stating, “Maundays Bay’s ranking as the world’s second-best beach... speaks to both Anguilla’s natural beauty.” The full results will be featured in the November 2026 issue of the magazine.

BermudAir is introducing a new nonstop flight service connecting Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This route, which launches on October 26, 2026, provides travelers with an additional direct link between South Florida and the destination, utilizing Embraer E190 aircraft for the journey. The service features a two-class cabin configuration designed to eliminate middle seats, ensuring every passenger has access to either a window or an aisle. Flights are scheduled to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, departing Fort Lauderdale at 5:40 p.m. and arriving in Providenciales at 7:25 p.m. Passengers will receive complimentary snacks and beverages, alongside extra legroom, throughout the one hour and 45 minute flight time. The airline suggests that travelers review specific flight dates and times through its booking system, noting that the timetable includes variations throughout November and December. This route serves as a precursor to a broader expansion of the airline's network, which includes planned service to Providenciales from Newark, Boston, Baltimore-Washington, Raleigh-Durham, St. Petersburg/Tampa, and Toronto. The airline is also preparing a separate connection linking Newark directly to South Caicos. Travelers looking to book travel should consult the airline's official schedule, as the winter season rollout will introduce further connectivity options for visitors planning trips to the islands later in the year.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort is reinforcing its year-round support for local craft vendors and transport operators in the Turks and Caicos Islands to sustain their livelihoods during off-peak tourism seasons. This initiative, highlighted on October 8, 2026, focuses on ensuring economic stability for small businesses through Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort and dedicated training programs. The resort partners with the Sandals Foundation and the Sandals Corporate University to provide workshops on customer service and digital marketing, enabling artisans to maximize sales at the Cultural Marketplace. Meanwhile, transport operators receive reliable business and sponsorship for community events. Taxi driver Loftan Ellis described the resort’s consistent backing as "magical" for helping drivers maintain income. General Manager Deryk Meany stated that the resort's expansion is intended to create opportunities for local residents, framing this outreach as a core component of the property's corporate social responsibility mission. By maintaining training, market access, and sponsorship across the calendar, the resort aims to build resilience in a sector vulnerable to seasonality. For local participants, this ongoing engagement provides a structured pathway to professionalize services through the Sandals Corporate University. These efforts are designed to contribute to a more diversified and sustainable local tourism economy, ensuring that small operators can remain active participants in the destination’s tourism value chain throughout the year.

Junior Minister of Tourism Samuel Forbes is traveling to Guyana to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference, held October 9 to October 11, 2026. Minister Forbes will join regional policymakers to discuss growth strategies and exchange best practices for sustainable tourism.

The Retreat hotel officially opened in Grace Bay, Providenciales, on October 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone for local entrepreneurship in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Founder Trevor Musgrove hosted government officials and guests to celebrate the launch of the property, which is fully owned and operated by local investors. The development comprises 24 studio residences designed to combine individual condominium ownership with a professional rental programme. All units sold prior to the completion of construction, which began on May 8, 2025. During the ceremony, Premier Charles Washington Misick and other officials commended the project as a model for local participation in the tourism industry. Reflecting on his family's history in hospitality, Trevor Musgrove remarked, “We’re not just building a hotel here, we’re building legacy.” The property, managed by Layvern Daniel, is currently welcoming its first guests. Looking ahead, the ownership team plans to expand their portfolio significantly. Trevor Musgrove announced intentions to embark on a new Grace Bay development in the first quarter of 2027. His long-term ambitions also include the construction of a five-star beachfront property on North Caicos, aiming to establish The Retreat as the foundation for a broader hotel brand.