Secret Bay captures World’s Best Boutique Hotel 2016

Gregor Nassief (left) receives the awards for Secret Bay
Gregor Nassief (left) receives the awards for Secret Bay

Secret Bay, an exclusive eco-luxury boutique resort located on the pristine, unadulterated island of Dominica, has been awarded the “World’s Best Boutique Hotel 2016” by the World Boutique Hotel Awards. The eight-villa hideaway was honored as being capable of transporting guests into “a novel world through the history of the location, its culture and its own stylistic flair.”

The awards were announced on November 9, 2016 at a gala dinner held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London. Attendees included boutique hotel owners, travel and lifestyle press and influencers from around the world.

“As a relatively new, small and remote property, it’s a humbling honor to be awarded the ‘World’s Best Boutique Hotel’ and to be in such impressive company,” said Gregor Nassief, proprietor of Secret Bay. “This distinction is shared with the exceptional and dedicated Secret Bay staff, the property’s conceptual architect, Fruto Vivas, our amazing 3,000+ guests who have welcomed us into their lives over the past five years, and my wife, Sandra, whose unending support made a world of difference.”
The World Boutique Hotel Awards are based on elements of design and concept, dining, facilities, location and service, as well as the overall experience and emotional journey produced by the property.
The 2016 World’s Best Category Winners are listed below.

World’s Best Boutique Hotel 2016 – Secret Bay, Dominica

World’s Best Beach or Coastal Hotel – El Nido, Pangulasian Island, Philippines
World’s Best City Hotel – 11 Mirrors, Kiev, Ukraine
World’s Best Classic Hotel – Hotel Heritage, Bruges, Belgium
World’s Best Culinary Hotel – Vila Joya, Algarve, Portugal
World’s Most Inspired Design Hotel – Kau Manor, Estonia
World’s Best Honeymoon Hideaway – Punta Tragara, Capri, Italy
World’s Best New Hotel Hotel – Gotham, Manchester, United Kingdom
World’s Best Relaxation Retreat – The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, Bali, Indonesia
World’s Most Romantic Hotel – Aenaon Villas, Santorini, Greece
World’s Most Sustainable Hotel – Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy
World’s Best Wellness Spa – Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
World’s Best Private Villa – Over Yonder Cay, The Bahamas

Secret Bay features eight secluded and sustainable villas and bungalows that are nestled in nature and positioned on a breathtaking clifftop overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Offering a wealth of unique experiences, completely personalised fine dining, architectural treehouse-style villas — including two new additions — and night and day access to remote beaches, Secret Bay provides guests the ultimate five-star hideaway experience. Secret Bay has received more than 30 accolades since opening, including being selected as a recipient of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Condé Nast Johansens’ Best Green Hotel 2016 in the Caribbean & Pacific, TripAdvisor’s 3rd Best Small Hotel in the Caribbean, and featured as part of Caribbean Journal’s Coolest Hotels for 2016 this year.

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19 Comments

  1. I love my island I just want more
    November 22, 2016

    Wish it was a Fellow Dominican that invested in Dominica not an outsider receiving this award. Aren’t we tired of other people making money on our island ? Dominica have money trust me we not as poor as some think the money is just in the wrong hands. If Dominicans held Dominica in the same esteem as outsiders we would be further as a country. While it is nice to recieve this acknowledgment I wish they would do something about the roads, and broken bridges that sit there waiting for China to remove. All of this plays involves the island. Why is it in 2016 so many people don’t know about Dominica? Why is when so many people leave they don’t want to come back. My people we need to love our island all the time and appreciate what we have. Dominica is a gem let’s invest in our island and not let anyone buy or island from us.

    • alex beko
      November 22, 2016

      Gregor Nassief is a Dominican…

    • DA to d bone
      November 22, 2016

      The Nassief family have been here for generations and are together the largest private employers on island.
      They have contributed a lot to the island. They are Dominican.

    • Silver fox
      November 22, 2016

      Above comment, who ever you are i don’t know, but i know one thing you are a workers supporter and not expecting you to know or say anything better…….piss off back to the USA.

      • I love my island I just want more
        November 23, 2016

        Ignorant as$ because someone has been in Dominica doesn’t mean they Dominican. Are they original Dominicans or did his family move to the island like some other Lebanese families. I don’t support workers I love my islands. My point was why couldn’t someone the government or someone original Dominicans do this. But why should I expect anything else from you. Typical small minded person who can’t see the big picture. Oh and by the way I’m not in American dumbas$

    • Tjebe fort
      November 23, 2016

      If fewer Dominicans would show their ignorance we may be a hell of lot further in our development. Gregor Nassief is a Dominican, born and bred in Dominica. He and his family could have gone and invested almost anywhere else in the world but they chose to stick with Dominica, which is their home. Pierre Charles was right after all with his comments about us wearing our ignorance as a badge of honor. Next time don’t speculate and jump to conclusions., it does not help Dominica.

  2. November 22, 2016

    Thanks to all the hard work my Dominica is going places lets give them the blessing to do even better

  3. concerned Dominican
    November 22, 2016

    This is what Dominica needs to develop not the Citizen by Investment rubbish.

    We need to utilise the natural resources which Dominica has in abundance and abandon that Citizen by Investment crap which could result in an influx of criminals especially now that Donald Trump is going to rid America of all its undesirables.

    Let’s go fishing, working the most fertile soil in the world, develop the beauty of our island.

    We can do it if the leaders would listen to reason and logic instead of flying all over the globe looking for trouble for Dominica.

  4. Hotelier
    November 21, 2016

    So why can’t you run Fort Young like that?

  5. Mahaut man
    November 21, 2016

    I love to see my nature island on top.. thanks

  6. Da to d bone
    November 21, 2016

    Well done Gregor. You have raised the bar for hotel development on island. Too many failures of built hotels who do not understand the market and what the consumer is looking for.
    May others look to you as a shining example on the way forward in the tourism industry for Dominica.
    You are deserving of the highest national award. Hope to see you getting one next year.

  7. David Johnson
    November 21, 2016

    Outstanding! Keep it up!

  8. MARGARET
    November 21, 2016

    Congratulations to Secret Bay and all staff for your profound effort in being awarded World’s Best Boutique. I have visited Dominica in April of this year and was very impressed with the beautiful and natural wonder of the island. Hoping to visit again next year God’s willing. I will like to know the exact location on island as my stay was in capital Roseau. Will appreciate if I can get address or contact # for the Hotel. it is a great getaway from the winter :-D :)

  9. Arte El Labore
    November 21, 2016

    Congratulations to the management and Workers of secret Bay Boutique hotel let’s hope that their will be lots more Awards to come our way in Dominica, keep it up boys and girls you are the real Dominicans.

  10. Roseau River
    November 21, 2016

    Excellent. Secret Bay and DHTA should utilize the news for their tourism promos

  11. UDOHREADYET
    November 21, 2016

    Congratulations to Secret Bay its owner’s and Staff!
    I can now share this info with friends wanting to visit Dominica.

  12. Tjebe fort
    November 21, 2016

    Good on you Gregor! You are an atypical Dominican and successful with it. Keep showing them how it is done. Cheap is for the cheap, know what I mean!

  13. hmmmm
    November 21, 2016

    Very nice Secret Bay. Keep up the good work and keep putting Dominica on the map.

  14. Proud Dominican
    November 21, 2016

    Congratulation to Secret Bay and the staff that makes it such a wonderful place to enjoy!! Keep up the great work! These are the positive things Dominicans should turn to and to comment on, not the negative stuff!! I hope I can win a prize to spend 2 nights at your hotel for being the 1st to comment. :-D

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