Located on a cliffside overlooking the Caribbean Sea, lush mountains and the peaks of the volcanic Cabrits, upon arrival at Secret Bay Resort it’s easy to see why Dominica gets the nickname of Nature Island. With 22 standalone villas, the Relais & Châteaux property seamlessly blends luxury, nature and memorable experiences for guests.
Travel Courier caught up with the resort’s owner Gregor Nassief to find out more about the property, what travel advisors should know and more about what the unspoiled island offers.
As Nassief explains, Secret Bay is a testament to the intersection of love stories—between a boy and his land, a father and son, a husband and wife, and a father and daughter.
Tell us a little bit about the love story behind Secret Bay Resort?
I was born in Dominica, and as a child I would free-climb the cliffs and explore the land where the resort now sits. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I discovered my father, Phillip, owned a small piece of land there. I immediately asked if I could purchase it, and as the generous father he was, he sold it to me at a discount. From there, it took 17 years and seven additional transactions to bring together the first five acres of Secret Bay — which today has grown to 50 acres of pristine, rain-forested coastal land.
Around that time, while building a technology business in Latin America, I met my future wife, Sandra, a Venezuelan artist whose creative vision has been integral to Secret Bay’s development. For our wedding, her father — the late Fruto Vivas, one of Latin America’s most celebrated architects — gifted us the drawings for a home on the land. His philosophy of “architenderness” — architecture as a tender, human-centered bridge to nature — became the DNA of Secret Bay. The resort is thus an intersection of love stories: between a boy and his land, a father and son, a husband and wife, and a father and daughter. Together, these threads shaped what has become a sanctuary of love and nature for guests from around the world.
In your own words, what do you think sets your all-villa resort apart?
We’ve often been told by guests and journalists that Secret Bay strikes a rare balance between luxury and nature. Set where rainforest meets the sea, the property features a river, access to three secluded beaches, two microclimates, a sea cave, and abundant wildlife — all serving as a backdrop to our ethos of connection, where guests reconnect to nature, themselves, and their loved ones.
Each villa is freestanding — an elegant, treehouse-like retreat with its own plunge pool, expansive terraces, and panoramic views. Yet beyond architecture, what truly sets us apart is sincerity: our team members are empowered to be themselves, offering discreet, personalized, and authentic care that fosters genuine human connection. It’s this blend of natural seclusion, biophilic design, and heartfelt service that makes Secret Bay feel less like a resort and more like a private sanctuary. And to fully appreciate what sets us apart, one must also experience the magic of Dominica itself.
What kind of stand out luxury experiences do you have that make it a 6-star Relais & Châteaux property?
Relais & Châteaux is about places with soul, where gastronomy, culture, and sense of place merge. At Secret Bay, luxury is defined not by marble lobbies or butlers-in-waiting, but by the privilege of experiencing nature’s abundance — sustainably. Guests arrive at their villa via the Caribbean’s longest funicular ascent through rainforest, and discover architecture designed with minimal impact on the land, recognized through our Green Globe certification.
Culinary experiences are rooted in the island itself: Executive Chef Aurelien Bulgheroni crafts island-to-table menus that marry French technique with Dominican flavours, sourcing ingredients from our organic gardens and neighboring farmers. Guests can immerse themselves in Dominica through curated adventures — canyoning into hidden gorges, guided hikes to waterfalls, or kayaking to the secret cove that inspired our name — before reconnecting with self at the clifftop Gommier Spa, where treatment rooms open directly to the rainforest and sea.
What should Canadian travellers know about Dominica as a destination and why it should be on their list?
Dominica is unlike any other Caribbean island. Often mistaken for the Dominican Republic, it is a world apart — small, English-speaking, and profoundly unspoiled. Known as the Nature Island, it is home to nine volcanoes, 365 rivers, black- and white-sand beaches, hot and cold springs, UNESCO-listed rainforests, secluded coves, and an underwater world that includes spectacular diving as well as the planet’s only resident pod of sperm whales. It is also home to the Kalinago, the last surviving community of the Caribbean’s indigenous peoples, whose culture and resilience are central to the island’s living heritage.
For Canadians, it’s important to know that Dominica is a true year-round destination. The climate is consistently warm, and because we’re not a mass-tourism island, there’s never an overcrowded season. Experiences are abundant: hiking through cool cloud forests, soaking in hot springs, snorkeling or diving vibrant reefs, visiting one of only two boiling lakes in the world, or exploring countless waterfalls and rivers — often with no one else around. Add to this the chance to witness whales year-round, and Dominica offers the rare combination of adventure by day and authentic luxury by night. Further, the country is a champion of conservation, rooted in sustainability efforts and driven by a low-impact, nature-first approach, making it one of the most eco-conscious destinations in the world.
Do you work with travel advisors?
Absolutely. Travel advisors are essential partners in connecting discerning travellers with Secret Bay and Dominica. We are expanding our engagement with advisors — offering training, personalized support, and incentive programs. For Canadians and other international travellers, advisors are trusted curators. We want them to feel confident presenting Dominica and Secret Bay not as just another Caribbean getaway, but as a rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience their clients will treasure. Our commission rate is 15%.
Do you have anything to add?
Come share our love story — of land, people, and place — and discover why Secret Bay and Dominica remain one of the Caribbean’s most extraordinary secrets.
