By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

Turks and Caicos, October 14, 2025 – The sizzle of prime cuts and the sound of waves are about to meet at Beaches Turks & Caicos. The resort has announced the debut of Butch’s Island Chophouse — the first-ever steakhouse on any Beaches property — as part of its sweeping new Treasure Beach Village development.

Set to open March 1, 2026, the $150 million expansion cements the all-inclusive resort’s position as one of the Caribbean’s most ambitious hospitality investments and a lasting tribute to its late founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart.

A Legacy Served Medium Rare

Butch’s Island Chophouse pays homage to the legendary hotelier whose vision reshaped Caribbean luxury. The new fine-dining restaurant will feature an elevated, contemporary steakhouse menu — premium aged beef, seafood, and wine pairings — wrapped in the signature warmth that defined Stewart’s Sandals and Beaches brands.

The restaurant will stand as the culinary centerpiece of the soon-to-open Treasure Beach Village, offering guests a sleek, modern dining environment that embodies Stewart’s passion for quality, service, and storytelling through food.

“This new addition isn’t just about expansion — it’s about legacy,” said an internal statement from Beaches Resorts, referencing Stewart’s enduring imprint on Caribbean tourism. “Butch’s Island Chophouse represents everything he believed in: family, excellence, and the joy of shared experiences.”

Treasure Beach — A Village Inspired by the Sea

Located on the world-famous Grace Bay Beach, Treasure Beach Village will be the resort’s sixth village, adding 101 multi-bedroom suites — ranging from two-bedroom family suites to four-bedroom oceanfront villas that can sleep up to ten guests. The addition will bring Beaches Turks & Caicos’ total inventory to 858 rooms and suites spread across more than 100 acres.

Designed with a “sea treasure” theme, the new village draws inspiration from the islands’ underwater wonder. The architecture features coral motifs, ocean blues, and natural textures that blend luxury with island authenticity.

Inside the main lobby, guests will find a show-stopping “sea-garden” ceiling installation — luminescent jellyfish sculptures suspended above a carved coral display — alongside custom conch-shell art created by local artist Stanford Handfield.

From there, the experience flows outdoors into a 15,000-square-foot lagoon-style infinity pool, lined with private cabanas, a swim-up bar, and family water slides.

Children can enjoy the Starfish Cinema, a 32-seat theater for movies and storytelling, while adults unwind in quiet pool zones or at one of the new specialty dining concepts.

Seven New Dining Concepts, One Destination for Every Appetite

In addition to Butch’s Island Chophouse, Treasure Beach introduces seven new dining venues that reflect modern, multi-generational travel tastes:

• The Pinta Food Hall, a global casual-dining marketplace
• BRÜ Coffee Bar, a chic day-to-night café serving espresso and evening cocktails
• A new ice cream parlor, beach grill, and snack hut
• A family swim-up bar and juice station for the wellness-minded

Together, these venues aim to expand Beaches Turks & Caicos’ already impressive collection of 20 restaurants and 15 bars across its sprawling campus.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The expansion is expected to generate hundreds of local construction jobs and, upon opening, new permanent roles in hospitality, culinary arts, and entertainment. Beaches Resorts has long been one of the country’s largest private employers, and this project further anchors the Turks and Caicos Islands as a flagship destination for luxury family travel.

Beyond the economic impact, the design team’s decision to spotlight local artists like Handfield and to incorporate elements of conch, sea life, and Bahamian-Lucayan motifs reflects a growing movement within the Caribbean hospitality sector — luxury that respects locality.

“This is where the global meets the authentic,” said a source familiar with the project’s creative direction. “Beaches isn’t just expanding rooms; they’re expanding the story of Turks and Caicos.”

A Decade of Dominance

The Treasure Beach announcement follows a string of accolades for the destination and its hospitality partners. Turks and Caicos was recently named Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination and Most Romantic Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards — honors it has held for nearly a decade.

Several island properties, including Beaches Turks & Caicos, also collected top regional awards for excellence in family travel and all-inclusive experiences.

Opening March 1, 2026

Reservations for Treasure Beach Village are already open, with stays beginning March 1, 2026.

From its shimmering new suites to its sea-inspired design and landmark steakhouse, Beaches Turks & Caicos is once again setting the standard for island hospitality — where every detail, every meal, and every moment reflects the enduring legacy of Butch Stewart and the unmatched beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Turks and Caicos, October 14, 2025 – Police patrols across the Turks and Caicos Islands are set to be significantly strengthened following the commissioning of ten new purpose-built vehicles for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF).The vehicles — officially blessed during a ceremony at the Albert Grant Sr. Police Headquarters in Providenciales — represent a major addition to the Force’s ground assets and a tangible step toward improving national security and public confidence.

Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick, and Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams joined members of Cabinet and the Police Executive to mark the occasion. The event also featured the blessing of the vehicles by Pastor Wilbert Jennings, symbolizing protection and readiness as they enter service across the islands.

Commissioner of Police Mr. Fitz Bailey described the new vehicles as critical tools for enhancing operational response and restoring morale among officers who have long faced mechanical challenges with an aging fleet.                                                                                                                                                    “The importance of having these vehicles is a plus for the communities we serve,” Bailey said. “They are purpose-built and will inspire confidence, improve morale among officers, and generate greater public respect.”

He added that some of the Force’s existing vehicles were “in deplorable condition,” commending officers for maintaining professionalism despite those constraints.

“These new assets will have a direct impact on our operational initiatives. It is now important that we adhere to a strict regime of inspection and maintenance to ensure they remain in optimal condition and are not abused,” the Commissioner emphasized.

Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier Misick both commended the men and women of the RTCIPF for their service and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening policing capacity across the nation.

The new fleet forms part of the government’s ongoing strategy to modernize the police force and support law enforcement in tackling crime, ensuring public safety, and improving visibility in communities.

As these new vehicles are deployed across Providenciales, Grand Turk, and the family islands, the RTCIPF says residents can expect increased patrol presence and faster response times — a visible sign of the Force’s continued effort to keep the Turks and Caicos Islands safe.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI).
Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Turks and Caicos Islands could soon be facing a major tourism problem: thousands more stray dogs.

It’s a likely consequence of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ban on US puppy imports, says Potcake Place K9 Rescue founder and director Jane ParkerRauw in a new video produced by Visit Turks and Caicos Islands.

The collaboration between the country’s leading tourism website and the charity dog rescue—which works to reduce the local population of homeless dogs—sheds light on how the CDC ruling has disrupted the charity’s operations and is contributing to an alarming rise in the country’s homeless dogs.

“It’s going to take years of getting back from [the progress we’ve lost] over the last 14 months,” said Parker-Rauw in an interview with VisitTCI. “I can’t stress how in such a short period of time, this is going to have such an impact on tourism here.”

On Aug. 1, 2024, the CDC’s ban on importing dogs less than six months old into the US took effect. The ban aims to prevent the introduction of DMRVV (dog-maintained rabies virus variant) into the US.

Since then, Potcake Place has been unable to find homes for hundreds of puppies. For the first time in the rescue’s 25-year history, they have had to turn away dogs.

“If we allow stray dogs to overrun the islands, it will inevitably affect the experience of our visitors and the tourism industry as a whole,” says Daniel J. LeVin, executive editor of VisitTCI. “Visit Turks and Caicos Islands works hard to promote the Turks and Caicos as one of the world’s premier travel destinations, and that means supporting efforts that protect the environment, community, and visitor experience.”

Many residents of Providenciales remember a time when wild dogs were shot to keep packs in check, or more recently, the fatal attack of a North Caicos woman in 2012 by feral dogs.

Large stray populations pose health and safety risks, deter tourists, and strain public resources. Many puppies the Potcake Place has had to turn away since the ban began have likely already had puppies themselves, says Parker-Rauw.

The impact of controlling a potentially explosive population of homeless dogs could have serious negative effects on the Turks and Caicos tourism industry, as seen in countries like Turkey.

“Two dogs in six years, if none of their offspring die, will produce 62,000 dogs,” says Parker-Rauw. “This is a major problem.”

The United States accounts for over 80% of visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the vast majority of Potcake Place’s adoptions.

Since the ban came into effect, US adoptions have dropped from roughly 500 per year to just five per month, says Parker-Rauw. Getting older puppies to the US is challenging, as they’re too large for airline cabins and not permitted in the hold of planes traveling between Turks and Caicos and the US.

Potcake Place has been advocating for a revision of the ban to allow puppies from lowrisk rabies or rabies-free countries into the US. Turks and Caicos is a DMRVV-free country, and all puppies adopted through Potcake Place are fully vaccinated before travel.

This collaboration is one of several that Visit Turks and Caicos Islands has spearheaded this year to promote sustainable tourism. Both the video and an expanded article can be found at www.visittci.com/news.