On Saturday, September 2nd, the construction plans of a five-star Four Seasons resort on Caye Chapel were revealed during a groundbreaking ceremony on the private island. The international luxury hotel and resort company plans to construct a 104-room hotel, 50 private residences, a 10-hole White Shark Golf Course designed by retired professional golfer Greg Norman, and over-the-water accommodations that include hotel guests’ rooms, shared facilities, and a detached swimming area offshore. Other amenities will include an upgraded marina, health and wellness facility, a private beach clubhouse, restaurants, cafes, and a 3,400-foot runway for Cessna planes. Caye Chapel Four Seasons is set to open in 2025.
The official reveal and the breaking of the soil of the US$200 million luxurious project took place at Caye Chapel, where the development team welcomed a host of guests, including Prime Minister Honourable Dr. John Briceño and other members of his Cabinet. Presiding over the formalities of the event was Dionne Chamberlain, Public Relations and Local Liaison for the development. 
She welcomed all the guests and highlighted that Four Seasons will further put Belize on the international travel map. Chamberlain said the services on the property will have the cultural Belizean touch and be open to anyone wishing to stay at what she described as ‘a community of barefoot luxury.’
Development Director Jorge Vargas and the developer’s representative Diego Nogeira gave an overview of the luxurious brand. Vargas said that when the Four Seasons Hotel opens in Caye Chapel, it will meet all the demands of a high-end clientele with the best service.
The project on the 2.5-mile-long private island is expected to hire over 1,000 Belizeans, who will be trained to meet the standards of the well-known international brand. Nogeira said the transformation of the island would be deemed a world-class paradise. They highlight that the golf course will be built in the island’s heart, and they could not think of a better person to design it than retired golfer Australian 68-year-old Greg Norman. According to records, he spent 331 weeks as world number one in the 1980s and 1990s. He won 88 professional tournaments, including 20 PGA Tour tournaments and two majors, the Open Championship in 1986 and another in 1993.
According to Nogeira, the project is also environmentally friendly. “We want to conserve the environment, and that’s why we proudly introduce a conservation initiative involving a renowned environmental leader,” said Nogeira. That leadership is Fabien Cousteau, who will house a conservation center and provide curated dives onsite to raise further awareness on protecting the nearby Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. According to the presentations, about 10% of the island will remain untouched and be maintained as a reserve. They said the conservation efforts will promote nature reserves and outdoor experiences.
Prime Minister Honourable Dr. John Briceño commended the developers for the project and mentioned that attracting external investment to the country is one of his government’s commitments. He briefly mentioned the recent second edition of the Belize Investment Summit held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, from August 30th through September 1st. Briceño told the media that his government will work with developers and make it more attractive to invest in Belize. He said these investments are done sustainably and will significantly benefit Belize and Belizeans. Following his remarks, Briceño, Nogeira, and Vargas overturned coins from around the world into the sand with golden shovels in front of the guests.
Of importance to note is that the Prime Minister did not answer any environmental concerns regarding this massive luxurious project, particularly over the over-the-water bungalows built off the island. The water structures in Belize have always been controversial with environmentalists and tourism stakeholders.
The developers believed Caye Chapel Four Seasons will be a very successful venture because of its beauty and location. It is about 16 miles from the mainland and Ambergris Caye and within the reach of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, of which most of its length is situated on the Belizean Caribbean coast. It is also a stone’s throw away from La Isla Cariñosa, Caye Caulker. The hotel and residences project partners with Thor Urbana and GFA Grupo Inmobiliario, a well-known real estate development group based in Mexico. The Caye Chapel Four Seasons will join the growing Four Seasons collection of 126 properties worldwide. Some of these near Belize include Costa Rica, The Bahamas, Anguilla, Nevis, and Punta Mita in Mexico.
For more information on the project visit https://www.fourseasons.com/residences/private_residences/belize/.
