The Meridian Club Re-Opens as Exquisite Five-Star Pine Cay, Turks & Caicos (June 2021)
Main Photo: Pine Cay; photo credit: Kira Turnbull
Date: November 2021 (late report!)
Name: Pine Cay
Location: A secluded private island on the edge of the world’s third-largest barrier reef, a 20 minute boat ride from Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
Number of Keys: 12 beachfront rooms and suites
Seller: The hotel, formerly known as The Meridian Club, was developed as a no-frills resort and club for homeowners on the island, where there are 38 residential sites. The original site opened in the 1970s
Buyer: TBA
Even the most knowledgeable Caribbean travelers might tilt their heads upon mention of Pine Cay in Turks and Caicos—and that aura of hidden mystique isn’t by chance.
Situated along the world’s third-largest barrier reef, and ringed by a two-mile stretch of powdery, white sand beach, the 800-acre private island feels worlds away, but is just a brief (and beautiful) 20-minute boat ride from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos’ main tourism hub. Turks and Caicos itself is just a three-and-a-half-hour plane ride from New York City, and is known for its crystal-clear, bright blue waters and soft limestone sand.
A proud member of Relais & Châteaux. Just 12 beachfront rooms and suites, a sociable Clubhouse, freshwater swimming pool and Tiki Beach Bar await. Guest spend their days on the ocean or the sand; after-dark delights include bonfires, barbecues and star-gazing. Gourmet cuisine comes naturally.
What most surprises travellers unaware of Pine Cay’s existence is that it’s been a coveted travel destination for a select few since it’s development in the 1970s. The hotel, formerly known as The Meridian Club, was developed as a no-frills resort and club for homeowners on the island (there are 38 residential sites), but it wasn’t until July 2021 that it reopened its whitewashed doors as a Relais & Châteaux property, complete with a fresh new look, incredible programming and unified rebranding as Pine Cay.
“What sets us apart is the feeling that Pine Cay is your private island, regardless of other guests,” General Manager Kirk Aulin tells Robb Report. “The island’s legacy and history, which dates back to the 1970s, lives on through a handful of families who built homes here, along with the hotel. They work in perfect harmony with the natural surroundings of the island. When you stay at Pine Cay, you’re immersed into their world, where their children and grandchildren have grown up for generations. There’s a special energy that comes with that.”
Aulin is keen on preserving the history and natural splendor of the island, which is approximately the size of Central Park, so he’s created several initiatives to make the island more sustainable. These include the use of rainwater harvesting, solar panels, electric transportation, no single-use plastic, Dark Sky lighting and eco-friendly beach lighting and fuel-efficient boats. Pine Cay is a key partner in the Caicos Pine Recovery Project that helps protect the country’s native tree, the Caicos pine (Pinus caribaea), which is currently under threat from the invasive pine tortoise scale.
Price: Undisclosed
THPT Comment: Can you make a 12-room/bungalow hotel profitable…it helps if the neighbours are the co-owners of the land…Bet it’s a great place to stay! ….and sustainable to boot
First Seen: Robb Report
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