The story of Spice Island Beach Resort is one that truly affirms that passion, combined with vison, hard work and consistency can turn dreams into reality. The late Sir Royston Hopkin KCMG, started in his family’s small hotel business, Ross Point Inn, in 1965. Working his way up, he soon immersed himself into the developing tourism sector, and was appointed to the Grenada Board of Tourism at the age of 20, where he would serve for 18 consecutive years. By 24, he was appointed President of the Grenada Hotel Association, becoming the youngest person ever to do so. He would be re-elected to the position a record 14 more times. In 1969, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the then Spice Island Inn and in 1975, he was made Deputy Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of the property. In 1987, he purchased majority interest, and became Owner and Chairman of the newly renamed Spice Island Beach Resort.
Under his skillful steward ship the property expanded from 20 to 55 suites and in 2000 underwent a US$6 million-dollar renovation, to re-open with 66 newly appointed suites. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan, one of the most powerful Caribbean Hurricanes on record in the last 100 years devastated the resort. In December of the same year, Sir Royston was graciously conferred with the title Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to tourism in Grenada and the wider Caribbean. Undeterred and newly knighted, Sir Royston embarked on a US$12 million-dollar re-build and the property re-opened in December 2005.
Since then, the Resort has undergone multiple million-dollar renovations, and has been consistently awarded some of the highest accolades in the industry for service and overall excellence in the Caribbean. These include the highly coveted, AAA Five-Diamond award and the Six-Star Diamond Award.
In March 2020, Sir Royston passed the torch to his youngest daughter, Janelle Hopkin, who was named President and Managing Director. Led by Janelle, a graduate of the prestigious Glion Institute of Higher Education in Montreux, Switzerland, and who like her father before her grew up in the family-business, the Hopkin family continues to build on the vision of the late Sir Royston to offer discerning travelers a uniquely Caribbean luxury experience.
President & Managing Director – Janelle Hopkin
General Manager – Brian Hardy CHA
Director - Nerissa Hopkin
Spice Island Beach Resort has always been committed to a continuous program of training and development for its team of employees and has sought to create a ‘family-atmosphere’ for both guests and staff. The Resort is immensely proud of its amazing complement of over 200 highly trained, passionate managers and team members.