Escape to Turks & Caicos Part 3

Finally, it's time for an up close and personal look at the Grand Opening celebration. What an event! The staff literally worked day and night to pull off this mega party. The pool area was surrounded by tables, chairs and festive white gazebos that would soon house a feast of culinary treats—from antipasto to pastries and everything in between (seafood, caviar, pasta, breads and cheeses, champagne bar, wine bar, etc.)

Even the signature Sandals & Beaches bed was perched poolside:

The theme was a Masquerade Carnavale Party and the décor was appropriately Italiano:

The opening ceremony began with a welcome from Sandals & Beaches CEO, Adam Stewart:

And after receiving congratulations from premiers and prime ministers from the islands of Turks & Caicos, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Antigua, Adam’s dad and Chairman and Founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, was presented with the Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences:

Now, in the world of travel and resorts and hotels, I must tell you that this is a VERY BIG DEAL. In fact, I believe there are only two other hotels in the world that are the recipients of this honor. And in order to receive it, the hotel and or resort must provide impeccable service, luxurious accommodations, and basically be outstanding in every way. Let’s just say it’s the Oscars of the hotel business and the Mr. Stewarts and their staffs deserve a big shout out for this well-deserved recognition. The resorts are truly “Luxury Included” and are not only beautiful but the staffs are also extremely accommodating, plus it’s refreshing to always see a smile on all their faces. So here’s to the tireless behind-the-scene workers whose daily efforts ensure that honeymooners and vacationers will enjoy an unforgettable trip-of-a-lifetime (the gentleman standing next to the chef’s left side is Don Dagenais, General Manager of Beaches Turks & Caicos who seemed to be everywhere making sure that all the guests were having a great time. We were, Don. Thanks!)

Then it was time to party and enjoy the entertainment. There were synchronized swimmers:

And limber dancers performing in huge globes that floated in the pool:

Acrobats showed off their amazing physical skills:

And the dazzling fireworks display lit up the night sky:

After all this excitement, it was time for the after-party and the crowd headed over to Club Liquid for some late-night dancing:

It was truly a “Grand” Opening celebration and a real treat for me to experience all that a Beaches resort has to offer. It truly is paradise and having a wedding there is certainly something to consider. They have a wedding consultant to handle all of the details and you can even choose a Preston Bailey designed wedding (read all about Preston’s Sandals & Beaches weddings in our September/October issue on the newsstands July 14.) In fact, during the weekend of the celebration there were 14 weddings that took place! I met some of the couples and their parents and they couldn’t have been happier. They all agreed that it was the perfect place to marry. For more information on a Beaches or Sandals wedding go to beaches.com or sandals.com.

At the Beaches resorts there are so many activities for everyone invited, from the littlest toddler to tweens and teens, as well as plenty of options for honeymooners looking for those much-needed triple Rs “Rest, Relaxation and Romance”. Another bonus is the option of having the Sandals & Beaches exclusive personal butler service. Just imagine, your own butler who will take care of all your requests 24/7. Now, why can’t life be like that every day? Well, there’s no better time to take advantage of all these magical offerings than on your honeymoon! After all, where else can you find such attention to detail such as these masterful carvings of watermelon and veggies?

Or the special nod to honeymooners that I spotted walking back from the beach:

And on that note, my dear, lovely brides-to-be, I leave you with this image. When you feel like tearing your hair out or screaming out loud just take a moment and focus on what awaits you and your new husband…Paradise…:

Posted by Diane at 3:19 p.m.