Discover the 8 Best New Caribbean Resorts from the 2025 World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards are one of the travel industry’s most watched annual shout-outs, and in 2025 the Caribbean’s “new resort” field offered a strong mix of big-brand debuts, ultra-luxury entries and a few elevated wellness properties. Whether you’re chasing modern design, family-friendly programming, private-island seclusion or an adults-only vibe, this selection of eight resorts, the nominees and the category winner recognised at the 2025 awards   represents the freshest and most talked-about openings across the region.

Why these eight matter

New resorts capture two kinds of travel appetite: Guests who want the latest in design, dining and experiential programming, and travellers hunting launch offers and fresh service standards. The 2025 shortlist mixes global luxury brands, established regional operators reinventing their offer, and curated boutique experiences designed around wellness and privacy. Many properties debuted with contemporary architecture, upgraded sustainability practices, and refined F&B concepts   trends that increasingly define high-end Caribbean stays.

1.The winner: Princess Grand Jamaica - Topping the category in 2025 was Princess Grand Jamaica, the World Travel Awards’ pick for Caribbean’s Leading New Resort. The win signals how Jamaica’s ongoing resort reinvestment continues to yield large, full-service properties that combine extensive amenities with resort-scale entertainment and family programming. Princess Grand’s advantage lies in a broad all-inclusive model paired with contemporary room product and a wide activity slate tailored to couples and families alike.

2. Royalton CHIC Antigua (Antigua & Barbuda) - Positioned as an adults-only, lifestyle-led resort, Royalton CHIC Antigua opened with an emphasis on social programming, contemporary design and swim-up suites. It’s aimed at travelers who want both beach time and a lively evenings program without leaving property.

3. Salterra Resort & Spa, Turks & Caicos - Salterra debuted as a villa-style, spa-centric property that leans into Turks & Caicos’ reputation for white-sand beaches and understated luxury. Expect wellness programming, refined dining and private-feel accommodations with a modern island aesthetic.

4. Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada - Six Senses’ entry in Grenada is built around wellness, ecology and immersive design. With a brand reputation for integrating spa, nutrition and sustainability, this property is for travellers prioritising restorative escapes and eco-aware practices.

5. South Bank – Grace Bay Resorts, Turks & Caicos - Located in the famed Grace Bay corridor, South Bank adds a contemporary resort option to a famously photogenic stretch of sand. The property blends island elegance with modern amenities and is designed to appeal to both families and design-minded couples.

6. The St. Regis Aruba Resort (Aruba) - St. Regis’ Caribbean expansion brought its signature service rituals and luxury touches to Aruba’s coastline. High-end dining, bespoke butler service for select room categories and a polished, service-intensive guest experience are the hallmarks here.

7. The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort (Dominican Republic) - In the Dominican Republic’s Cap Cana, the St. Regis brand leans into golf, private beaches and elevated culinary programming. Its launch added more luxury room inventory to one of the country’s fastest-growing resort enclaves.

8. Zel Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) - Zel is notable for bringing a contemporary resort concept to Punta Cana’s busy resort market, focusing on updated design languages, accessi