The Retreat officially opens in Grace Bay, celebrating local ownership and a family legacy
A wide cross-section of individuals on the island of Providenciales, flocked that island’s tourism belt – Grace Bay – on October 1, 2026, to witness the grand opening of The Retreat Hotel.
Government officials and other individuals of prominence who went up to speak from the lectern, heaped praises on founder, who they classified as an example of Turks and Caicos Islanders taking a greater role in owning, developing and operating tourism businesses.
Premier Charles Washington Misick, Deputy Governor Anya Williams, Tourism Minister Zhavargo Jolly and Physical Planning Minister Arlington Musgrove joined family members, business partners and invited guests for the opening ceremony.
For Trevor Musgrove, the occasion marked the fulfilment of a family ambition rooted in a small hospitality business on North Caicos.
“We’re not just building a hotel here, we’re building legacy,” he said.
Musgrove recalled helping his mother operate his father’s five-bedroom beachfront bed-and-breakfast as a boy. Although the family eventually sold that property, the dream of owning and operating another hotel remained.
He said The Retreat was already welcoming its first guests, with reservations for November and December looking positive.
The development broke ground on May 8, 2025. It comprises 24 studio residences and was designed to combine individual condominium ownership with a professionally managed rental programme, according to the project’s groundbreaking announcement.
Sean O’Neill, managing partner of The Agency Turks & Caicos, told guests that all units had sold before construction was completed.
He described The Retreat as the first project in Grace Bay to be developed, built, sold, marketed and run by Turks and Caicos Islanders, adding that local buyers were also among the individual unit owners.
That participation, he said, extended beyond construction into ownership of the completed property.
Musgrove credited his family, construction team, real estate partners and hospitality advisers with bringing the project to completion. He also thanked the government for its support, including a development agreement and concessions.
The Premier encouraged other aspiring entrepreneurs to draw inspiration from the achievement, saying that dreams could become reality through proper planning and hard work. He noted that opportunities extended beyond hotel development into areas such as information technology and e-commerce.
Williams praised the family’s progress from a small North Caicos accommodation business to the new Grace Bay property. She said the development demonstrated what Turks and Caicos Islanders could achieve and expressed hope that it would inspire similar ventures.
Jolly also welcomed the investment, describing Musgrove as an example to young Islanders of the opportunities available throughout the tourism industry.
He encouraged others to study the project’s approach and pursue partnerships that could help bring their own ambitions to life.
Arlington Musgrove delivered a personal tribute to his cousin Trevor and the wider family, emphasising the importance of local ownership in tourism.
“Excellence does not need an ocean view,” he said. “It just needs vision.”
Located on Bonaventure Crescent, The Retreat is a short walk from Grace Bay Beach. According to its website, the hotel offers continental breakfast, transport to the beach by buggy, and reserved beach chairs and umbrellas for guests.
Hotel manager Layvern Daniel leads the operation. Her appointment was announced ahead of the opening, with more than 12 years of Caribbean luxury hospitality experience spanning operations, guest relations, sales and reservations.
Musgrove said the team intended to deliver first-class service and establish The Retreat as the beginning of a broader hotel brand.
He announced plans to embark on another Grace Bay project in the first quarter of 2027, while describing a five-star beachfront property on North Caicos as his longer-term ambition.
For now, he urged continued cooperation and support among Islanders as the new hotel begins operations.
“We can do a lot if we decide we’re going to work together,” he said.
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