Cayman Islands Hotels Celebrate a Record-Breaking Festive Season
This holiday season brought booming business for hotels across Grand Cayman, with many reporting full occupancy during the Christmas and New Year period. Both five-star resorts and boutique properties welcomed throngs of visitors, leaving the island's accommodation options stretched to capacity.
Marc Langevin, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, confirmed the hotel was fully booked from December 22 through the first weekend of January. “We are at full capacity,” Langevin shared. “It’s definitely a packed house.”
The Ritz-Carlton often operates at high capacity during the festive season, with occupancy rates typically hovering around 95%. This year, however, was particularly noteworthy, as guests made advance bookings for Christmas 2025 to secure their favorite rooms. Despite the wet weather on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, visitors remained undeterred.
“Overall, the year has been challenging,” Langevin added, citing tropical storms between July and November as a complicating factor. “But thankfully, none were destructive, and we were able to finish with a big bang. The holiday season has been great.”
Cayman advisors Anwar and Blake at the Ritz Carlton.
Industry-Wide Success
Other major hotels on the island also reported impressive performance. Hermes Cuello, General Manager of the Marriott Grand Cayman Resort, noted, “Christmas is always a peak time, but this year was even better than usual. We had really high occupancy all week, and in the days surrounding Christmas and New Year, we were completely full. The flights were full too, so it’s been very busy. It’s a great time for everyone in the industry.”
The Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa and Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman also reached full capacity during the festive season. Virgil Napier, Area Director of Sales and Marketing for both properties, shared that the Kimpton saw many repeat guests who brought friends and family back to the island with them. While the weather on Christmas Day wasn’t ideal, Napier noted, “Guests enjoyed a short break from the bright sun and participated in culinary events like rum tastings, cooking classes, and activities for kids.”
Boutique hotels, such as the health and wellness-focused Vida in West Bay, also reaped the benefits of the holiday surge. Vida’s General Manager, Natalia Radchenko, reported that the nine-suite property was fully booked over Christmas and New Year, just nine months after opening. “We’re very happy because people are starting to discover us,” she said. In one instance, the hotel’s last available room was booked by a group of tourists whose flight had been canceled. “It was lucky that we were able to take them,” she added. “The whole island was full
A Bright Start to 2025
As the island’s tourism sector reflects on a successful end to 2024, hoteliers are cautiously optimistic about the first quarter of 2025. Langevin from The Ritz-Carlton noted that the beginning of the year is looking strong, though he acknowledged increased competition from new resorts opening across the Caribbean.
At the Marriott, Cuello expressed concern about a softer March, as travelers take a “wait and see” approach in light of global uncertainties. “There are plenty of flights available, so we have a lot of work to do,” he said. “People are taking their time to book.”
Despite these challenges, the festive season’s success has set a positive tone for the year ahead. With strong bookings already in place, the Cayman Islands’ hospitality sector is well-positioned to maintain its momentum and continue delighting visitors from around the globe.