Take a leisurely, sun-soaked stroll to the far west end of West Bay beach and it’s difficult not to notice the new kid on the block: Infinity Bay. Like the rest of the properties on the beach, it faces the azure water of the Caribbean to the north, but that is where the similarities end.
Developed by Oregonian Gene Albert and partners, Infinity Bay broke ground in January of 2006 and has not looked back since. While it dwarfs the competition in its sheer size and scale, it also has adhered to building standards that are not only pleasing to the eye, but its strict ‘green’ construction practices, overseen by Gene’s brother Vernon, ensures the massive property has little impact on the sugar-sand beach and the turquoise water beyond.
A tour of the property reveals not only great craftsmanship in its buildings, but careful attention to the landscaping, including native tropical shrubs and flowers as well as full-grown, mature palm trees. Construction chief Vernon Albert, who is busy supervising the building of the property’s second phase, has also devised a process to turn Infinity Bay’s sewer water into water clean enough to be used as irrigation water for the huge amount of plants that currently thrive on the property.
“The sewage and drainage infrastructure began well before construction started, which is not the industry norm,” Albert explains. As he demonstrates what he and his crew have accomplished, it is clear that Albert’s not the industry norm for contractors. While his exasperation with some of the problems he’s encountered with the huge undertaking of Infinity Bay is readily evident, so is his enthusiasm for continuing to make the property the model of green building on Roatan and elsewhere.
Albert is also not afraid of hard work: “I’ll screw it up three times before I get it right…and before others have started,” he says with a grin, describing his approach to the project at hand.
Roatan as a vacation destination
Infinity Bay, one of a new generation of luxury properties on Roatan, comes at a time when the island is seeing unprecedented tourism development, though it still is considered a relatively undiscovered destination. The recently opened Town Center cruise ship center in Coxen Hole is luring travelers who have to likely never heard of the island. That’s changing – Roatan is now becoming a more frequent stop on southern Caribbean junkets. Each ship that stops translates into thousands of vacationing passengers being introduced to the quiet development on Roatan, and that is appealing.
Antonio Moncada, Sales and Marketing Director for the property, who is Honduran, is convinced it’s simply a matter of Americans not knowing about Roatan and Central America in general. “I went to college in the States and I noticed that people there generally don’t know their geography. It’s only a matter of time before this place is just as well known as the Cayman or the Virgin Islands,” Moncada states and acknowledges that North Americans make up the majority of guests at Infinity Bay.
Amenities abound at Infinity Bay
What guests can expect on the property are one, two and three bedroom units that comfortably accommodate up to eight guests, each unit featuring a fully-functional kitchen appointed with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and aromatic Honduran cedar cabinetry. Bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious, modern and comfortable. In-room services include satellite TV and complimentary wireless internet access.
Each terrace ingeniously affords a view of the beach, while front and center is a massive, stunning, cobalt blue-tiled infinity edge swimming pool, surrounded by plenty of tables, chairs and lounge chairs. At the end of the pool is a swim-up, palapa-covered bar and restaurant. Between the restaurant and the beach are tables, nestled under palm trees, providing hungry guests with the perfect view of the water.
Second Phase Being Built
The second phase of building began in January 2007 and is still underway: additional condo units, a private health club, world-class spa, fine shopping and dining as well as convention facilities and conference rooms will soon be complete. Finishing touches followed by the resort’s grand opening are scheduled for July of this year.
Moncada adds that a “Kid’s Club,” catering to the resort’s younger set, will begin later in 2009. “We want to offer adults the chance to truly relax and read, drink or eat without the kids. Kids will be supervised and engaged in activities that will challenge them.” The club will include age-appropriate activities for anyone, from toddler to teen.
While Infinity Bay continues to evolve as it enters its final construction phase, it has set the standard for all resort and vacation properties on West Bay, past, present and future. It has managed to combine luxurious details and green, ecologically-conscious building practices, never forgetting its two most important assets: its guests and Roatan’s crown jewel: West Bay beach.
For more information on Infinity Bay, including phone numbers and photo galleries, visit the website at www.infinitybay.com.
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