
As a Trinidadian, Tobago is near and dear to me. The Trinidad sister-isle is a great place to chill and unwind with their variety of beaches, nature trails, diving and reef activities, and much more. Most recently, they have also put a concerted effort into hosting their own yearly Carnival event, usually falling in the later half of October.
However Tobago has had a long standing problem of properly fleshing out its tourism market. A quick look at a map shows barely any international connectivity, with most flights usually originating out of Europe.
Flights to and from the U.S. are limited to Caribbean Airlines (via New York), and tourists not flying in via that route have to transit through Trinidad (POS) and most recently Barbados (BGI).

On a positive note, a completely new airport is being built on the opposite end of the airfield, able to accommodate a range of light to heavy aircraft. Like many others, the new terminal features an open concept with high ceilings, all-glass paneling and jet bridges which can connect to medium and heavy aircraft.
The project is expected to be completed at the end of March 2025, and is expected to be operational by middle of the same year.


Having modern airport facilities is a plus, but with a lack of adequate accommodations, major airline do not have enough of an incentive to consider Tobago as a new destination.
When airlines consider new destinations, they look at factors including physical room capacity given that they have the potential of flying in at least 150 passengers per flight. They also look at the suitability of each hotel, and its reputation (e.g. if they belong to any international hospitality chains).
Prior to 2022, Tobago mostly thrived mostly on Airbnbs and hotels that looked straight out of a 1960s travel brochure, both of which are not suitable.
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New hotels
Various hoteliers have expressed renewed interest in the island, with two hotels coming online in the past three years. The Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel opened its doors in mid-2022, bringing 74 rooms to the market, while the Manta Lodge Hotel and Dive Centre opened two years later, offering 10 rooms. Both of these properties are managed by the Choice Hotels hospitality group.
Besides these two establishments, other projects are underway, all of which are expected to be managed by international brands.
Marriott Hotel development at Rocky Point

Being developed by the Superior Hotels Limited (the same company responsible for the renovation and launch of the BRIX hotel in Trinidad), the Marriott-branded four-star all-inclusive resort will offer 200 rooms and a number of bungalows, townhouses and villas. Some of these townhouses and villas will be put up for sale to private individuals.
As of November 2024, the developers were awaiting their Certificate of Environmental Clearance and other approvals in order to begin construction. The project which came to light in 2021, was originally expected to be completed some time in 2025, but planning delays have pushed that timeline back a few years.
Hyatt Secrets/Dreams development at Kilgwyn Bay

A much less talked about project is the development of two Hyatt-branded all-inclusive resorts at Kilgwyn Bay next to the airport. The Secrets and Dreams resorts will have 200 and 300 rooms respectively on the shared beach front property. The development is being spearheaded by DSM Investments Limited.
Guests will have access to some shared facilities, but the adults-only Secrets will be separate from the family-oriented Dreams resort.
Both resorts will be managed by AMResorts Marketing, a subsidiary of AMResorts. AMResorts falls under the Apple Leisure Group, which was recently acquired by Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
It’s not clear how far the project has reached, but the developers last published that they were also awaiting their Certificate of Environmental Clearance. They estimate that once completed, the 500-room property should attract about 34,600 visitors per year.
Elephant Tree Beach Club and Villas at Roxborough

A private entity is financing the development of the Elephant Tree Beach Club and Villas situation at Roxborough’s beach front. This property will feature 40 clubhouse rooms, and 126 townhouses, and will include facilities such as restaurants, bars, and spa and fitness center.
The townhouses are already listed for sale to the public and can be used as private residences. However, owners have the option of renting out their townhouse to travelers via the hotel in exchange for a percentage of the income. If they choose this option, the hotel will be responsible for management of items like booking, customer relations and turnover service of the unit.
Construction on this project was supposed to finish in 2024, but works are still ongoing at the site. There hasn’t been a publicly revised estimate as to when works will be completed.
The Choice Hotels group was originally earmarked to take on management of the property, but now that they’ve signed with Manta Lodge, it seems this may no longer be the case. It is unclear who the developers plan to choose, but it will most likely be another reputable international brand.
Magdalena Resort Beach and Golf Resort at Lowlands

Located along the south coast in Lowlands, the Magdalena Resort Beach and Golf Resort at Lowlands originally opened in 2000 and was managed by the Hilton Hotels group until 2008. Since then, the 178-room property underwent renovations and re-opened under government management in 2012.
In my opinion, the Magdalena is a shell of what it once was, with no real significant improvement works being carried out since its last set of renovation works. However the government recently announced plans to either sell the hotel entirely, or look for an international operator or financial partner.
The Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (e TecK) put out a request for proposal, offering these three options, with a final submission date of February 20, 2025.
I think there is a lot of potential for the Magdalena to be a great hotel, but I believe this may best be achieved through a sale to a reputable company.
Conclusion
There is a lot to look forward to in the Tobago hospitality arena over the next few years. Having room capacity via reputable brands is a key part of encouraging international airline to consider Tobago as a new destination. However all related stakeholders will have to work hand in hand to bring Tobago to the spotlight as tourism does not stop at a flight in and a nice room.