“Not your standard branded hotel”: Wymara Resort + Villas marks Forbes Five-Star milestone

Wymara Resort + Villas brought a touch of Turks and Caicos' warmth to Toronto on Wednesday (March 25), hosting an intimate dinner at Sammarco to celebrate a major milestone for the property: Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star status for its Sunset Cove villas.

Hosted by Canadian owner and developer Bruce Maclaren, the evening drew media and industry guests for a closer look at what sets the Grace Bay resort apart in an increasingly competitive Caribbean luxury market.

Wymara Villas, Sunset Cove is the first property in Turks and Caicos to earn a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star designation and the only private villa resort in the Caribbean to hold the honour.

“Wymara is not your standard branded hotel,” Maclaren told guests.

Maclaren traced the journey behind the achievement, framing it as the result of years of hands-on involvement and a willingness to challenge traditional hotel models.

Maclaren, who was born and raised in Ottawa, transitioned from construction into hospitality and has been closely involved in the resort’s evolution since its early days. 

Rather than competing on size, Maclaren said the strategy has been to double down on core differentiators: location, design, food and service.

The resort sits on what Maclaren described as one of the most desirable stretches of Grace Bay Beach. 

“We have the best piece of Grace Bay Beach, it’s the widest. It has 1,000 feet of parkland beside it,” he said.

The resort operates two restaurants at the hotel and one at the villas, with Maclaren noting that they are frequently ranked at the top of Tripadvisor listings in Turks and Caicos.

At its core, Maclaren said, the concept is simple. 

“Those four elements are what Wymara is: best beach, best food and beverage, best rooms, best service.”

Over 17 years, Wymara has grown from a boutique beachfront hotel into a multi-faceted resort offering, including its newer villa product at Sunset Cove.

The development includes 15 one- to six-bedroom oceanfront villas, some with features such as infinity-edge pools, overwater swim decks and waterslides.

Wymara's approach reflects a broader philosophy of creating a property that feels intimate but varied, a contrast to larger, branded resorts entering the destination in recent years.

“It’s small but it never feels crowded. There are lots of different spaces for people to enjoy,” said Maclaren.

That focus has already helped the villas earn Forbes Five-Star status, with the hotel component expected to follow.

Beyond design and service, Maclaren also highlighted Wymara’s investment in sustainability and community initiatives, areas that are increasingly important to both guests and operators.

The resort contributes to reef preservation efforts through guest fees and menu initiatives, while also supporting a local youth centre through ongoing funding.

“The reef is one of our biggest draws to the island,” Maclaren said.

With direct air access from major Canadian gateways and a flight time of under four hours, Turks and Caicos is a destination Wymara sees potential to grow in the Canadian market.

As Maclaren put it, the goal has been consistent from the start: to create a property that evolves with its guests, improving year after year.

“It’s a very personal experience,” he said.

And, he added, one best understood firsthand.

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