Secret Bay Hotel hits international press

Invest Dominica Authority (IDA) is expecting a major thrust towards investment in Dominica as one of its local investors, Secret Bay has been featured by a number of media houses and publications recently.

Between September and October of 2011, the property has had outstanding articles written on it in “National Geographic Traveller”, luxury publication “B Beyond”, “Caribbean Travel + Life”, “Travel & Leisure” and The Observer’s “Style” publication.  Leading European publication “Caribbean Property Investor” named Secret Bay as one of the 7 most stunning places in the Caribbean in its annual Opulent Retreats listing.  Over the next two months, Secret Bay will be featured in several other internationally known publications including the New York Times.

Also, Time Warner Cable TV program, A Taste of New York, has just selected Secret Bay as the “ultimate romantic getaway” and they will be airing a video on Secret Bay several times during the month of November.

The property which is located in Portsmouth recently opened its doors to guests in May 2011 with two large and smaller-sized villas.  The resort features high-end villas in a beautiful eco setting with personalized world class service in a luxurious yet secretive environment.  It caters for the nature lover seeking a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere with the highest level of service.  Owners of Secret Bay, Gregor Nassief and Sandra Vivas, are particularly proud of what the articles are doing for their property and Dominica on a whole.  IDA wishes them much more success.

Invest Dominica Authority is the government’s agency responsible for promoting and facilitating both local and foreign investment into Dominica. It provides all the relevant information required to establish a business in Dominica and acts as the liaison between investors and other key agencies in Dominica. Invest Dominica Authority is your one stop shop for doing business in Dominica.

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40 Comments

  1. Annoyed
    November 9, 2011

    Great News. It would be nice if we get some more airlines to bring in visitors to stay in such beautiful hotels.

  2. Ted lewis
    November 9, 2011

    ADMIN.
    why have my comment not been posted. I thought you would have banned a comment if its found to be defamatory , slanderous or disrespectful.
    I clearly state that my poor father was not given fair value for that prime piece of lands. i mean per square feet ADMIN for such view and road side included.

    how does that satisfy the above criteria for not posting.

    Had i been in dominica.HUH.

    Don’t worry admin, through the great lord jesus christ ONE day what is wrong will be made right and what is right will remain right.

    Even you admin , will one day stop protect the bourgeoisie .

    By the way , for the sake of the development of Dominica i do hope the firm finds success and that some of my families in Petite Bay may find employment there at least in return for the gifts ( cheap land) given to the said proprietor.

    ADMIN: How can it be proven that the price you gave is true? Then before we know it we getting some letter from some smart lawyer. We’ve been down that road before and we know what we are doing. If you don’t like it, that is none of our concern.

    • Tamara
      June 19, 2022

      I remember Arta in that place before if is the same spot.
      Be very careful about business that are useful or not.
      I noticed so many changes but in 15 years Dominicans are still the same in the hart and I hope that.

    • Tamara
      June 19, 2022

      I remember Arta in that place before if is the same spot.
      Be very careful about business that are useful or not.

  3. concerned
    November 9, 2011

    IDA may not have made any contribution but do you all remember the($1)dollar minister? what is he to Mr.Gregor? And oh yes it’s a master piece of artwork and the scenery breath taking. All the best to the proprietor!!

  4. Good Lordy
    November 9, 2011

    Possie doing well. I see that those Venezuelans going to get rid of the rusty old boats. Great news.

    Now the ferry from Martinique to cabrits needs to be sorted out then we can make some good tourism.

  5. Fitzroy Armour
    November 9, 2011

    Well done Sandra and Gregor,
    Artistic expression of your long time dream…come true.
    Congratulations

  6. Born Free
    November 8, 2011

    That is so great for the investors and all those who worked with them to achieve this level of success.

    The article reads:”with 2 two large and 2 smaller-sized villas”. The capacity in terms of rooms was not so clear in the article since one wealthy person could easily reserve four villas at any one time. How will that level of international exposure be handled in terms of requests for bookings? Will there be a two year waiting period for persons who wish to stay there?

    How many eco-hotels here have the standards to benefit from the real interest that the exposure will create?

    Congratulations to all who worked hard directly and indirectly to make this dream a reality.

  7. hmm
    November 8, 2011

    It’s ridiculously expensive though. Over $500US A NIGHT!

    • Malatete
      November 9, 2011

      …obviously not for the likes of you! if you want quality you must pay. Nobody forces anyone to stay there. You have a choice.

      • Tamara
        June 19, 2022

        I wrote the same thing as you…. and dear admin stop to tell me I duplicate

    • Anonymous
      November 9, 2011

      Well go find a hotel with a price more suitable to your pocket. Have you really understood the concept of a boutique hotel and exactly what is being offered for that price?
      Rooms are being sold, good international press coverage, NO evidence that there complaints about price and there you are. Sacwey gas man!!

    • Tamara
      June 19, 2022

      If someone wants a villa in Dominica for 500 a night that is their problem and only benefits for you all. They come and after leave so…..

  8. Aye Dominique
    November 8, 2011

    I think this is a great piece of investment and really which it serves as a model for future developments of this sort. Congrats to the developers, work well done!!!

    So what role did IDA play in all of that? Did they go out and seek the investor, did they come up with the idea, did they assist in the business plan, marketing? What did they do to assist that business?

    I know that they help with concessions which are across the board for every investor…but what significant contribution did they make to that investment?

    • Aye Dominique
      November 8, 2011

      These are the hard core questions that needs to be asked of these institutions, these entities suck alot of money from the country’s purse.

      • Malatete
        November 8, 2011

        Do you know how much IDA’s sucking from the country’s purse? Check with the owners of Secret Bay before spouting off!

  9. Concerned Dominican
    November 8, 2011

    Congratulations to Greg & Sandra,Do you cater for the locals I looking forward to spending a weekend at secret bay

    • 1979
      November 9, 2011

      LOL nice one 8)

  10. Proud Grandbarian
    November 8, 2011

    Good job! I am glad we are being mentioned more.

    • Tamara
      June 19, 2022

      :wink: I will not disturb your business but I am really concerned about Dominicans.

  11. Phillis
    November 8, 2011

    Wonderful nice to hear

  12. 1979
    November 8, 2011

    This is a much better path to channel investors into Dominica, than the current freehanded passports for sale scheme maneuvered by certain lawyers. Good stuff! congrats IDA!! Well done!!

    good news for once….

    • 1979
      November 9, 2011

      LOLOLOLLLLLL what???? i know what i am saying because i am in a POSITION to say say what i see….so what!!!!! I say it is a better channel than the lawyers who benefit for passport sales more that the Dominica treasury and thats that!!!!!!!!!! yes I was born into a bourgeois family but the GOD in me refuses to see hard working people like the cattle of the “consumer class” that is if any of you know what that is….unfortunately some folk love their ignorance like a pig loves mud

  13. Sout Man
    November 8, 2011

    The Nassief family making yet another significant contribution to their adopted homeland. The detractors must be dumbfounded. Congratulations are in order.

    On another note though. The owners of another hotel soemwhere close to Giraudel has all the ideas about hopw to go about developing Dominica. I haven’t seen any of their reviews. Does it exist and where can I find it. By the way what about the “bulk water project” that would have invested 50 or so million dollars into the economy. Ideas, ideasd and more ideas galore. Where is the action.

    • WIKILEAKS
      November 8, 2011

      Adopted homeland…what do you mean. Weren’t they born here?

      • Facts
        November 8, 2011

        Yes Wikileaks I wondered at that statement too. The young Nassiefs are third generation Dominicans. Grandfather Elias came here in the early 20th century, but father Phillip was born and grew up here and son Gregoir was born here and now have children here…I think this link is stronger than “adopted homeland” although I do agree with Sout Man’s other comments!

        • Tamara
          June 19, 2022

          Third generation knows and I hope is doing their best for all.

      • Cerberus
        November 8, 2011

        Amen, not only were they born here but they also reside here and made significant investments. They “ARE DOMINICA”!

      • South Man
        November 10, 2011

        Thanks for the correction. Yes! the Nassief’s were born here.I was more thinking about the kinds of criticisms they get simply because they are not black and are by dint of their hard and dedicated work they keep succeeding. I totally agree that they are indeed born and bred Dominicans. Apologies are in order for the misplaced comment about “adopted homeland”.

        • Tamara
          June 19, 2022

          I’am not born in Dominica and what you are raising is a fact that could cause difficult issues for the children. My children was at st. Jones school and my first daughter that is mixed with black was having more problems than the blondes ones ….. ok i all ready passed the test of waiting buses and people that where saying: you smell like dead people. Ok i waited for the next one. Racism or xenophobia in some places in the world are sure worst than in Dominica now.

    • Anonymous
      November 8, 2011

      Just like your government

      • fool
        November 8, 2011

        a h :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

    • Sout Man
      November 9, 2011

      I resent this impostor for using my blog name. If you want to elevate the owners of the hotel near Giraudel who HAVE ideas about developing Dominica while taking a jab at the Nassiefs and the bulk water project, then say so. Do not be a coward hiding behind ‘Sout Man’.

  14. Say so
    November 8, 2011

    Congratulations to Gregoir and Sandra and all who work with them. They deserve it after all the determination and hard work. And it will help to highlight Dominica generally.

    Anyone thinking of building a hotel in Dominica visit Secret Bay. This is waht the market wants.

    Sadly there are some so called hotels being built in Dominica now where the owners do not understand the market. The rooms have no private balcony, just a main passage veranda. The rooms look out onto the busy road…even one onto a gas station!Thats OK for in town, but in the country side!? And in the Nature Island of the Caribbean? When you dont get many guests dont complain. And these failures-to-be get through Planning Department and are in some cases funded by the AID Bank!!!

    So those that are successful such as Secret Bay all the best to them. You have to know your market and aim for it. I notice Secret bay website gives details of Melville Hall airport so that you can arrive in your private jet!Thats aiming high. The way to go once you can deliver the quality.Cheers!

  15. mouth of the south
    November 8, 2011

    as we hope more hotels and initiatives like that will be established in d/ca… as they get more press from highly reputed sources such as new york times… we’ll see an increase in tourist visits…. as extend or plan to extend it is a no brainer that we’ll be in need of an international standard airport… our entrepreneurs are doing their part… our gov’t has to do it’s part and build an international airport

  16. Anonymous
    November 8, 2011

    Congrats I have been there and the property has a WOW effect. Wishing the owners well we need more of these properties in Dominica that tie in with the Nature of the island

  17. ANTIGUAN
    November 8, 2011

    NICE PLACE..

  18. forreal
    November 8, 2011

    i like that,dominica is like slumbering giant to much, it is time to role foreword,yes time to put some of the other carribean countries in our rear view mirror.

  19. ehbeh look it
    November 8, 2011

    Congrats to the owners and Dominica in general. i am hoping other hotels get that boost to.

    • Truth Seeker
      November 8, 2011

      Saw it being built, yet to experience it, which in the language of product viability, is what matters most. I hope the owners have a solid marketing plan underway on how to make sure their investment pays off.

      That said, it is my sincerest wish that access to the beach remains firmly in the hands of those of us who grew up there and still would like to relieve our fun memories.

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