Cotton Bay Brings the First Ritz-Carlton Reserve to The Bahamas
On the southern end of Eleuthera, south of the settlement of Rock Sound, construction has begun on Cotton Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Residences. The resort is going up on the site of the Cotton Bay Club, which was built there in 1959. It will be the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in The Bahamas.
The project
The developer and owner is Cotton Bay Holdings Limited, a Bahamian company that has been part of Eleuthera for more than 25 years and owns the Cotton Bay Club and the Cotton Bay Golf Course. The company refers to the project as the Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Cotton Bay. Marriott International announced its agreement with Cotton Bay Holdings on December 7, 2021, and ground was broken on April 14, 2025.
The plan calls for a 111-room hotel: 110 guestrooms and one Ritz-Carlton Reserve Suite. Cotton Bay Holdings also plans 100 private residences. The first phase covers 200 acres of a 400-acre property. The project also includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II.
The developer lists spa and wellness and dining among the amenities. Marriott's 2021 plan described an open-air resort with a spa, swimming pools and restaurants. No restaurant names, spa operator or chef have been announced.
The design
TAHR, formerly Abax Architects, was appointed lead designer in September 2022. The firm says the architecture draws on natural and cultural references from The Bahamas. The lobby uses shapes that reference the island's rock formations. The spa uses hexagonal forms inspired by the patterns of pineapple cultivation. Materials and construction techniques are informed by Taíno traditions and adapted to the tropical climate.
TAHR lists the project at 20,000 square meters of built area.
Construction and timing
Cotton Bay Holdings said on March 12, 2026, that construction had commenced on site. Greython Building Company is construction manager and general contractor, working through a newly formed joint venture with another Bahamian service provider. The developer estimates the construction phase at 29 months.
The two companies give different timelines. Marriott says Cotton Bay is anticipated to open in 2029. Cotton Bay Holdings says completion is expected between 2027 and 2028.
The Reserve brand
Ritz-Carlton describes Reserve as a collection of rare sanctuaries that combine escape, cultural connection and discreet luxury. When the Cotton Bay agreement was announced in 2021, Marriott operated five Reserves, in Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
The brand now lists nine:
- Rissai Valley, Jiuzhaigou, China
- Mandapa, Ubud, Bali
- Higashiyama, Niseko, Japan
- Phulay Bay, Krabi, Thailand
- Zadún, Los Cabos, Mexico
- Siari, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
- Nekajui, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
- Nujuma, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
None is in The Bahamas.
