The tiny island of Bimini in the Bahamas is set to become the new “enclave for the elite” as luxury resort Banyan Tree has announced it will open its first location within the Caribbean.
Slated to open in early 2025, the 750-acre Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences site will house 54 custom waterfront residences, a 50-key five-star hotel with overwater bungalows and an onsite Bonito Beach Club.
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Situated on Bimini’s Rockwell Island, a master-planned peninsula, the boutique hotel will be a mere 48 nautical miles east of Miami (door to door that’s about 30 minutes) and accessible by seaplane, private charter jet, helicopter or boat.
If the brand’s first Caribbean location wasn’t enough, Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences is also set to house the first overwater bungalows in the region.
Spearheaded by Rockwell Island Development Group (Ridge) with the award-winning Oppenheim Architecture leading the design, the project is set to transform Bimini into something more akin to the Maldives, with 26 overwater accommodations planned to be precise in addition to 24 beachfront villas.
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For those looking for something a bit more permanent, there will be 54 custom waterfront residences, each with access to a private dock, nearby beach access and concierge services.
Owners also have the option to place the residences in a rental program, managed by Banyan Tree, while they are away. With prices starting from $3.5m, sales and construction have already begun, with the first five complete residences to be delivered in early 2025.
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While it may feel like a long time until the doors of Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences open, the resort is already looking ahead at expansion, where additional plans for the site include a Mediterranean-style superyacht deepwater marina, a private 18-hole golf course and a members’ only clubhouse.
“From Phuket to Shanghai, Saudi Arabia to Mexico, Banyan Tree is going global as the advocate of sustainable travel,” said Eddy See, president and CEO of Banyan Group.
“The Banyan Tree brand embodies intimacy, nature and local traditions, and Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences reflects these values by embracing the local culture and natural environment, inviting guests to immerse themselves in this sanctuary for the senses.”