O2 Beach Club & Spa, a new five-star all-inclusive luxury boutique resort located in St Lawrence Gap on the south coast of Barbados, is now open. A remake and expansion of the Ocean Hotel Group’s former Ocean Two Resort & Residences, the new resort was named “O2” as a nod to the symbol of oxygen – “the element as natural and life essential as the act of breathing.”
Featuring 130 rooms and suites – 42 more than before – in three distinct “Collections” (Club, Luxury and Concierge), the resort also has three pools, including one of the only rooftop pools on the island; six dining experiences; seven bars and rooftop lounge; and the full-service Acqua spa, with inspiration from oSea Malibu and featuring the only Hamman treatments in Barbados.
The Club Collection rooms feature king or twin beds with ensuite bathrooms and rainfall showers, while the Luxury Collection is comprised of adult-only suites that offer chic contemporary design and private balconies with views of the Caribbean Sea. Options in the latter category include oceanview or oceanfront suites, as well as swim-up rooms with direct access to the adult-only river pool, where guests can also easily access H2O, the new swim-up bar.
The Concierge Collection provides more spacious luxury with one or two-bedroom suites and fully equipped designer kitchens. These unique residence-style suites lend themselves to the resort’s “your stay, your way” personalization concept, and guests of the Concierge Collection are entitled to a ‘Learn To’ lesson where they receive a free masterclass from an expert ranging in topics from windsurfing, golfing, discovering the art of mindfulness, and more.
The resort tapped local Caribbean designer Michelle Leotaud to bring the vision of authentic Caribbean laid-back luxury to life and give a true sense of place. The Trinidad-based interior designer made it a priority to make sure guests feel like they are in the Caribbean, and more specifically, in Barbados. There are natural elements throughout the hotel including wood, marble and leaf motifs found on king room headboards, lobbies, and public areas.
Spa
The resort’s new Acqua spa features the only Hammam treatment room on the island of Barbados and breathtaking ocean views from its eighth-floor location. Acqua’s signature treatments are inspired by healing through water. Guests can experience personalized wellness journeys, and all treatments offered in Acqua will utilize seaweed-infused oSea products. Acqua spa’s services are not included in the all-inclusive offering.
Dining
The culinary heart of O2 is Elements, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in an open-air space with an attractive crescent-shaped bar overlooking the beach, and a sun terrace with cabanas and Jacuzzi tubs.
Bluefin Beachside Grill offers swimsuit-friendly, toes-in-the-sand daytime dining, while Brisa is a rooftop tapas lounge with endless ocean views, shady pergolas, and comfortable poolside seating, perfect for sunset cocktails and star-gazing nights.
On the ninth-floor guests will find Oro, a fine dining experience offering modern fusion European cuisine with a Caribbean twist and 360-degree views of the south coast. Evenings at Oro include a nightly sunset celebration featuring Champagne and canapes on the sky terrace.
For an even greater dining selection, O2 guests will also have access to all five restaurants at Sea Breeze Beach House, O2’s sister hotel located just a two-minute transfer away.
All-inclusive
The all-inclusive experience at O2 includes limitless access to the resort’s six dining experiences and seven bars, complimentary non-motorized watersports, and a full activities program.
Additionally, the resort enlists the help of a Local Experience Ambassador who oversees setting up special “how-to” experiences for guests. These daily signature “how-to” classes feature engaging topics such as how to prepare local recipes, how to play the steel pan drum, and how to play dominoes like a local, for guests to return from their travels with new skills and an authentic taste of island culture.
“There is something new and exciting for the luxury market in Barbados… and it happens to be on the South Coast,” says Ocean Hotels Group Barbados GM Patricia Affonso-Dass. “We are confident that O2 Beach Club & Spa will take centre stage in Barbados’ luxury resort offerings, combining authentic personalized service with upscale accommodations and world-class dining to create unforgettable experiences.”
Besides the O2 Beach Club & Spa, the Ocean Hotels Ggroup offers Sea Breeze Beach House: a luxury boutique all-inclusive resort with true Bajan charm; and South Beach Hotel: a retro-inspired all-suite property just steps away from Rockley Beach.