When Rosewood Exuma opens its doors in 2028, it is expected to mark a decisive shift in how ultra-luxury resorts are conceived in the Caribbean, prioritising sustainability, scale and sense of place over traditional notions of excess.
The new resort is being developed on East Sampson Cay, a 124-acre private island in the Exumas, in partnership with Yntegra Group. Only a quarter of the island will be developed, with the remainder preserved through low-impact design, renewable energy and a master plan centred on environmental stewardship.
A private island rooted in preservation
The Exumas — a chain of 365 islands spread across crystalline waters in the Bahamas, have long attracted travellers seeking privacy and understated luxury. Rosewood’s arrival signals a new chapter for the region, with a project designed to integrate into the natural landscape rather than dominate it.
The resort will operate largely on solar energy, with sustainability embedded into every aspect of the design. Developers say the aim is to create a property that feels pioneering yet respectful, offering modern luxury while safeguarding the fragile island ecosystem.
Intimate scale, residential-style luxury
Rosewood Exuma will open with just 33 suites, all positioned to maximise views across pink-and-white sands and shallow turquoise seas. Several suites will be located directly on the beach, offering seamless indoor-outdoor living.
While full interiors have yet to be revealed, the resort is expected to reflect Rosewood’s signature residential aesthetic, with natural textures, coastal tones, private terraces and spacious layouts designed to feel more like private island homes than hotel accommodation.
A resort designed for both wellbeing and adventure
Despite its small scale, Rosewood Exuma will feature a wide-ranging amenity offering. Plans include six dining venues, many drawing produce from the island’s own organic garden, and a 20,000-square-foot Asaya wellness sanctuary complete with hydrotherapy pools, treatment rooms, outdoor spaces and a fitness centre.
Guests will also have access to an outdoor sports complex with tennis, padel and pickleball courts, a fully serviced beach club with grill restaurant and bars, and multiple pools reserved exclusively for overnight guests. Two marinas capable of accommodating yachts up to 150 feet will further cement the resort’s appeal to high-net-worth travellers arriving by sea.
Families are also part of the vision, with a Rosewood Explorers children’s club offering culturally inspired activities tied to the local environment.
Floating architecture breaks new ground
Among the resort’s most distinctive features are what developers describe as world-first concepts: a floating helipad and a floating padel court, both created in partnership with Yntegra Group.
The floating helipad allows guests to arrive directly by helicopter without altering the island’s terrain, blending engineering innovation with environmental sensitivity. The padel court, surrounded by open water, turns sport into a visual spectacle — a reflection of the resort’s ambition to fuse playfulness with design-led luxury.
Arrival as part of the experience
Access to Rosewood Exuma will be deliberately experiential. Guests can arrive via Exuma International Airport with connections through Nassau, by private yacht, or by helicopter using the floating helipad. Aerial arrivals will offer sweeping views of the Exumas’ shifting blues before touching down directly at the resort.
A new benchmark for private-island hospitality
Industry observers say Rosewood Exuma represents a broader evolution in luxury travel, one defined by intentional development, environmental responsibility and a deeper connection to place.
Rather than scale and spectacle, the resort is built around privacy without isolation, comfort without excess, and experiences that balance indulgence with meaning. When it opens, Rosewood Exuma is expected to set a new benchmark for private-island resorts in the Caribbean, and could emerge as one of the region’s most sought-after addresses for a new generation of luxury travellers.