Business View Caribbean - Sept. / Oct. 2014

%XVLQHVV 9LHZ ‡ &DULEEHDQ ² 6HSWHPEHU ‡ 2FWREHU 'RPLQLFD Embracing Simplicity T he eco-focused development on theCaribbean island of Dominica is shaped in equal measure by a responsibility to the environment and a desire to offer guests an experience in which they’ll reach harmony with nature while rediscovering what’s often lost amid a hectic always-on-the-go lifestyle. “Luxury can mean many things to many people,” said Anastasia Thomas, Secret Bay’s guest services manager. “To us, it primarily means a luxury of time. We live in such a fast-paced society. We cook breakfast in a microwave, we have a sandwich for lunch, we pop something into the microwave for dinner and then we go to bed and start the whole thing over again tomorrow. “Our guests come here to really experience what life is like when they’re given that time back. The Secret Bay provides healthy rejuvenation in harmony with nature The mission statement for Secret Bay can be reduced to just two words: sustainable luxury. time to savor a glass of fresh-squeezed juice, to see a hummingbird move from flower to flower and to see the warm touch of the sea on your skin or the warmth of the sun on your shoulder. “When you come here, that’s what a vacation is all about.” The concept of the resort beganwithDominica native Gregor Nassief, who frequented the land upon which the facility is built as a child and long desired to make it his home. Ultimately, his Venezuelan-born father- in-law, noted architect Fruto Vivas, helped make the dream a reality by designing the villas and bungalows that are found on the property today. Thus, the connection to the land is strong and the passion for the mission is palpable. Though Dominica is among the largest islands in the