The Regent Grand continues a tradition of excellence.

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos Courtesy HAB Group

Whether you drive or stroll down Grace Bay Road, the Gold Coast’s pulse noticeably quickens as you head west from the central roundabout at Seven Stars. The long, elegant row of palm-lined buildings that is The Regent Village bustles with activity; tucked behind the plaza and fronting Grace Bay’s shining azure sea and sugary sand are similarly sophisticated resorts. The Regent Grand, following in the tradition of its sister property Villa Renaissance, is the latest addition to the new “heart of Providenciales.”

For the 2008 winter season, The Regent Grand fully opened to rave reviews from its first visitors. Designed in the striking Italian style of Villa Renaissance, the lovely boutique property also focuses on providing an atmosphere of elegance, privacy and superb personalized service. Of the 54 condominium suites, only 23 are in the rental pool at any given time, ensuring that owners and guests won’t have to share the property’s 300 golden feet along Grace Bay Beach with many others.

Ranging in size from two to four bedrooms, each oceanfront suite boasts private terraces overlooking one of the world’s most stunning seascapes. Alternatively, four charming poolside villas are nestled among lush tropical landscaping, with lovely views of the mosaic infinity pool. All units are fully furnished; kitchens have state of the art appliances and granite countertops and the luxurious, oversized bathrooms come complete with bathrobes, slippers and Gilchrist & Soemes products.

But most guests spend their time savoring the island’s sensuous blend of sunshine, sea breeze and seashore pleasures. Mirroring Villa Renaissance’s trend-setting design, The Regent Grand’s huge central piazza courtyard envelops one of the country’s largest and most beautiful mosaic-tiled infinity pools, complete with fountains, two heated Jacuzzis, a poolside bar and a tantalizing view to the ocean through an archway etched in the oceanfront buildings. Just a few steps through the arch is Grace Bay Beach in all her majesty, beckoning a swim, stroll, snorkel, sail or simple sprawl on the loungers (with beach food and beverage service at your beck and call).

Also on site are: a bright, air-conditioned gym full of the latest Nautilus equipment, tennis courts and racquets, bicycles, a large DVD collection and a small library. The popular Teona Spa is currently expanding into a 2,000 sq. ft. space in The Regent House, which will assuredly enforce its “essence of tranquility.” From this serene location, a well-trained team of therapists administer to guests a full menu of spa treatments, enhanced with the use of Thalgo products.

Thanks to their affiliation with the Provo Golf Club (hosts of the 2009 Caribbean Amateur Open), Regent Grand and Villa Renaissance guests enjoy the best rates for golfing on Providenciales, along with free transportation. Club rentals and tee-times are just a phone call away. The resorts also team up with Big Blue, a local operator specializing in eco-tours and scuba diving when guests are in the mood for adventure.

Just a short stroll along Regent Street take you into the heart of Providenciales and the beat of The Regent Village. This large, beautifully landscaped two-story plaza is home to a vibrant blend of local businesses (including the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, TCInvest, a number of realtors and developers and branches of each local bank), shopping options (ranging from high-fashion clothing, casual beachwear, duty-free jewelry, wines and spirits to fine art and local crafts) and brand new dining choices (including The Vix and The V-Bar, a trendy restaurant and member’s bar which will also provide room service to the resort, the Vino Tiempo wine bar and the island’s first Thai restaurant). Just across the Grace Bay Road are an Irish pub, pizza terrazza, café and diner, steak and seafood house, sushi bar and ice cream parlor!

Also part of Regent Village West are conference facilities that will greatly enhance the ability to host weddings, conferences and incentive market business trips in the “heart of Providenciales.”  This 2,000 sq. ft. facility, with seating for up to 150 people, will offer private dining or full service catering and incorporate a range of cutting edge audiovisual and teleconferencing facilities. The Regent Village also boasts the island’s first two-story car park, 24 hour security, elevator access and extremely competitive lease-purchase options.  At press time (March, 2009), 75% of the 150,000 sq. ft. of brand-new construction has already been sold.

This exciting center of activity is the brainchild of HAB Group, a local company with a long history of success in Providenciales, including the development of the Provo Water Company, Provo Golf & Country Club and its surrounding real estate. But the heartbeat continues to quicken. To the east of The Regent Grand the group is currently developing The Vellagio, their most prestigious oceanfront resort condominium to date. A show-suite is presently under construction and will be available for viewing in the summer of 2009.

Within all of HAB’s successful properties, you’ll find a cosmopolitan mélange of employees, all professionally trained to the group’s high standard of service and working together in harmony. And if Regent Street is the center of the “heart of Providenciales,” perhaps this corporate culture reflects its lifeblood.

For more information on The Regent Grand Resort and Spa, call 649 941 7770 or (toll free) 877 537 3314 or email   reservations@theregentgrandresort.com. For sales information, contact sales@habgroup.com or call 649 941 8900.