Ocean Hotels Group, the family-owned collection of Barbados hotels and resorts, celebrates the opening of O2 Beach Club & Spa, a new five-star all-inclusive luxury boutique resort located in St Lawrence Gap on the South Coast of Barbados.
After months of transforming the previous Ocean Two Resort & Residences and expanding the property with 42 new oceanview and oceanfront suites, the new resort has been aptly named “O2” as a nod to the symbol of oxygen, the element as natural and life essential as the act of breathing. The O2 Beach Club & Spa has 130 luxurious rooms and suites in three distinct “Collections”: Club, Luxury and Concierge. Guests can enjoy the resort’s variety of amenities with three scenic pools, including one of the only rooftop pools on the island; six dining experiences; seven bars with the new Brisa rooftop lounge; and the full-service Acqua spa, with inspiration from oSea Malibu and featuring the only Hamman treatments in Barbados.
The Club Collection rooms feature king or twin beds with en-suite bathrooms and invigorating rainfall showers, while the Luxury Collection is comprised of adult-only suites that offer chic contemporary design and private balconies with views of the Caribbean Sea. Options in the Luxury Collection include oceanview or oceanfront suites, as well as swim-up rooms with direct access to the adult-only river pool, where guests can also easily access H2O, the new swim-up bar. The Concierge Collection provides more spacious luxury with one or two-bedroom suites and fully equipped designer kitchens. These unique residence-style suites truly lend themselves to the resort’s “your stay, your way” personalization concept, and guests of the Concierge Collection are entitled to a ‘Learn To’ Lesson where they receive a free masterclass from an expert ranging in topics from windsurfing, golfing, discovering the art of mindfulness, and more.
The resort tapped local Caribbean designer Michelle Leotaud to bring the vision of authentic Caribbean laid-back luxury to life and give a true sense of place. The Trinidad-based interior designer and director of Apple and Iron Concepts made it a priority to make sure guests feel like they are in the Caribbean, and more specifically, in Barbados. There are natural elements throughout the hotel including wood, marble and leaf motifs found on king room headboards, lobbies and public areas. Michelle tried to purchase as much as possible from local vendors and commissioned Bajan artists to create original pieces and prints for the guest rooms and suites.
“There is something new and exciting for the luxury market in Barbados…and it happens to be on the South Coast,” said Patricia Affonso-Dass, Group General Manager, Ocean Hotels Group Barbados. “We are confident that O2 Beach Club & Spa will take center stage in Barbados’ luxury resort offerings, combining authentic personalized service with upscale accommodations and world-class dining to create unforgettable experiences.”
The resort’s stunning new Acqua spa features the only Hammam treatment room on the island of Barbados and breathtaking ocean views from its eighth-floor location. Acqua’s signature treatments are inspired by healing through water. Guests can experience personalized wellness journeys, and all treatments offered in Acqua will utilize seaweed-infused oSea products. Acqua spa’s services are not included in the all-inclusive offering.
The culinary heart of O2 is Elements, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in an open-air space with a stunning crescent-shaped bar overlooking the beach, and a fabulous sun terrace with cabanas and jacuzzi tubs to laze away the days. Bluefin Beachside Grill offers swimsuit-friendly, toes-in-the-sand daytime dining, while Brisa is a rooftop tapas lounge with endless ocean views, shady pergolas, and comfortable poolside seating, perfect for sunset cocktails and star-gazing nights. The ninth floor is where you will find Oro, a fine dining experience offering modern fusion European cuisine with a Caribbean twist and 360-degree views of the south coast. Evenings at Oro will include a nightly sunset celebration featuring Champagne and canapes on the sky terrace. For an even greater dining selection, O2 guests will also have access to all five restaurants at Sea Breeze Beach House, O2’s sister hotel located just a two-minute transfer away.
The all-inclusive experience includes limitless access to the resort’s six dining experiences and seven bars, complimentary non-motorized watersports, and a full activities program. Additionally, the resort enlists the help of a Local Experience Ambassador who oversees setting up special “how-to” experiences for guests. These daily signature “how-to” classes feature engaging topics such as how to prepare local recipes, how to play the steel pan drum, and how to play dominoes like a local, for guests to return from their travels with new skills and an authentic taste of island culture.
Barbados Covid travel protocols are seamless and effective. As of October 24, 2021, fully vaccinated travelers are asked to present proof of a COVID-19 standard PCR test taken three days prior to arrival. The return test required to enter the U.S. can be arranged at the hotel. Visit VisitBarbados.org for the most up to date travel protocols and additional details.
The all-inclusive rates from November 1 to Festive start at $751 CAD for the Club Collection, $1,144 CAD for Luxury Collection and $1,261 CAD for Concierge Collection, based on double occupancy. During Festive season, the Club Collection starts at $1,036 CAD while the Luxury Collection starts at $1,144 CAD, and the Concierge Collection starts at $1,817 CAD. For more information and to book O2 Beach Club & Spa, contact your travel advisor, visit www.o2beachclubbarbados.com or call 1-888-964-0030.
