SPOTLIGHT
A chance meeting with Gary Player
changed Mark’s life forever and inspired his
interest in master-planned communities as
well as residential and hospitality properties.
He found Turks and Caicos to be the
perfect location to develop his ideas and
purchased the Grace Bay Club in 2001.
Since then he has grown the company
from annual revenues of $4 million to
a forecasted $50 million in 2018 and
acquired boutique resort Point Grace with
the intention of transforming it into a $100
million property. The residential resort,
Rock House, which is over 50 percent sold,
is his latest venture and a testament to his
confidence in the Turks and Caicos as a
prime luxury hospitality destination.
GRACE BAY RESORTS IS KNOWN
FOR THEIR “HANDMADE
EXPERIENCES.” WHAT IS YOUR
APPROACH TO CREATING THOSE
MEMORABLE MOMENTS?
As a small hospitality and development
company, we have made it our mission
to ensure we take every aspect of our
business personally, which means that we
seek to create meaningful relationships
with our guests, our travel partners, and
our investors. We have a team of seasoned
executives who take the time to nurture
these relationships at all levels, so that the
customer, whether it is a hotel guest, a
real estate owner or a travel partner, will
feel that they are receiving a “handmade”
experience with people who truly care.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT WITH
A RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO
OWNERS? IS THERE A SYNERGY?
People buy real estate for a lot of reasons,
and in the Turks and Caicos, buyers of
real estate do so because they have an
affinity for the destination, its people
and its beauty. Therefore, the “return on
investment” is defined in different ways.
Yes, buyers want to know that they are
going to enjoy safety in their investment,
that it will generate financial benefits and
that it will grow. Equally, they want to know
that their return will also be in personal
enjoyment, for them, their families and
friends. Successfully blending these two
“investment return” expectations is where
synergy can be obtained. In the process,
both the owner and Grace Bay Resorts win.
Rockhouse
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