🏨 Grand Hyatt Hotel developers apply for watersports dock licence

The developers of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, currently under construction at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, have applied for a licence to build a watersports dock. This addition was not part of the original project and has raised concerns due to the potential impact on marine life. Docks along Grand Cayman’s famous beach are rare, and while there is no specific policy against them, their potential to disrupt the local marine environment is a significant concern. 🐠

The application for a coastal works licence has been submitted by Pageant Beach Hotel Ltd. The proposed dock, measuring 10 feet wide by 138 feet long, would be used for the hotel’s watersport operations. The developers aim to dock a large catamaran on the site, offering trips to guests and visitors. Despite measures to mitigate impacts on the marine environment during construction, the Department of Environment has noted that such measures can only offer limited protection. The dock could limit light, interfere with water circulation, and the noise of watercraft and heavy activity around the dock could directly impact marine life. 🏖️

The Grand Hyatt Hotel project has been under construction for over six years, with work ceasing during the COVID-19 pandemic and only resuming in 2023. The 190-room hotel, set to be the largest in the Cayman Islands, is now projected to open in 2025. The hotel will also feature a residency section with 88 'condo-hotel' guest rooms and 76 suites, six restaurants, three resort-style swimming pools, a 12,000-square-foot spa and fitness centre, and a 25,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor conference area. 🏗️