Nevis is a mere 36 square miles with a population just over 10,000 people, about 200 miles south of Puerto Rico and west of Antigua. It may be best known for its Four Seasons resort and exclusive clientele, however Hon. Mark Brantley, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism says the sleepy outpost may be on the verge of an economic burst.
The island sits atop a supply of geothermal energy that could not only supply its own needs, but those of other islands as far as Puerto Rico. According to an article in Transmission and Distribution World this clean energy would lower costs and increase reliability. It would also make Nevis an economic hot spot.
Already Nevis has been gaining traction with affluent consumers looking for a boutique experience with its half dozen or so small inns ranging from 10 to 38 rooms, villas and cottages. Nisbet Plantation, a AAA Four Diamond and Conde Nast Traveler Gold List winner may be the best known however Brantley cited Montpelier Plantation Inn (set 750 feet above sea level on a sugar estate dating from the 1700s), Golden Rock Inn (eleven tropical colored cottages and a spring fed pool with panoramic ocean views) and The Hermitage (cottages and a private villa set on the edge of a rain forest) as examples of the island’s variety of high-end and intimate offerings. Each he says is ideal for full takeovers, be it for weddings or family gatherings. “It’s very elegant. You relax and have High Tea in the afternoon,” the Minister noted during a visit to New York recently. There are several other inns with potential for a new owner.
Of course it’s not all play in Nevis. The country is known as a financial services center specializing in wealth preservation trusts. There are some 40,000 companies that have Nevis business registrations and the likes of Lauren Hutton and Supreme Court Judge Stephen Breyer have homes.
According to Brantley new developments are on the way. A 300-acre site is expected to be home for an Aman property while a 600-acre plantation and beachfront lot could bring Six Senses and Mandarin Oriental if the pieces come together.
Either way, with the charismatic Brantley promoting Nevis a burst of energy certainly seems to be in the future.
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