Why Planners Are Turning to Grenada for a Caribbean Without the Crowds

With white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and sun-drenched shorelines, the Caribbean delivers a winning formula for executive retreats, board meetings, and incentive experiences. But for many planners, the challenge isn’t finding beauty — it’s avoiding overexposure. Attendees increasingly want a Caribbean experience that lets them live on island time without the crowds.

Enter Grenada. The tri-island country in the Southern Caribbean — comprising Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique — offers the accessibility and convenience planners expect from the Caribbean, paired with a scale that allows programs to feel intimate rather than mass-market. While its tourism numbers have climbed steadily, Grenada remains less saturated than many of its regional competitors.

In fact, it wasn’t even on Stacey Liburd’s professional radar until Grenada hosted the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainability Conference in the spring of 2024.

“I was captivated by the island's appeal,” said Liburd, who became CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority in June 2025. “Marketing this destination truly feels like a dream come true.”

Other major players in the travel industry are taking note. At the end of 2025, Delta became the eighth airline to offer nonstop service to the island, adding daily flights from Atlanta. Nonstop routes also connect Grenada to Miami, Charlotte, New York, and Toronto.

Luxury inventory is expanding alongside airlift. The 150-room InterContinental Grenada Resort is set to open later this year, joining Six Senses La Sagesse, a five-star property that opened in 2024 and earned a Michelin One Key for its privacy and seclusion. 

Grenada spans just over 133 square miles, allowing groups to experience the island fully while still feeling connected. 

One Program, Three Islands to Explore — Without Changing Hotels

For meeting planners, a program in Grenada comes with a unique opportunity to explore three different islands.

Grenada: The Center of Culture 

Home to the majority of the country’s population and hotel and event infrastructure, Grenada serves as a home base and hub for the majority of programming. St. George’s, the largest town and capital, has a population of around 7,500. Here, attendees can soak in some of the island’s stunning scenery, including waterfalls, beaches, and rainforests, while also learning about the invasions, battles, and moments that have shaped history.

Meeting planners have opportunities to design unforgettable off-site experiences. Attendees can discover a plant lover’s paradise and take a tour of the five-acre grounds at The Tower Estate, sample locally crafted rum at the River Antoine Estate, savor the island’s sweet history at The Diamond Chocolate Factory, and more. 

Carriacou: Laid-Back Charm 

Carriacou may be only 13 square miles, but the island is big in spirit. Home to traditions such as The Maroon and String Band Festival, an annual three-day celebration of African heritage and the maroons who escaped slavery, Carriacou gives meeting planners a chance to create exclusive experiences for one day of programming, such as snorkeling and a private lunch on the appropriately named Paradise Beach. It’s not just about the destination, either; it’s about the journey. The 90-minute sail excursion from Grenada presents an ideal networking setting. For faster service, charter flights are just 20 minutes.

Petite Martinique: Transformative Tranquility

After enjoying the beaches of Carriacou, attendees can hop aboard for a quick 25-minute sail to the final island in Grenada’s chain. Home to approximately 900 residents and a 586-acre footprint, Petite Martinique is the definition of escape-it-all relaxation. Whether organizing a gathering on Sanchez Beach or a hike to the top of the Piton summit, planners can design moments of calm and restoration within a broader agenda here.

Elevating the Attendee Experience With an Extraordinary Sense of Adventure

Grenada’s 40 beaches may be the main draw, but programs here don’t need to revolve solely around relaxation. As planners look for team-building components that create deeper bonds and lasting memories, the island offers a unique mix of thrills on land and at sea.

Go Below the Surface

Located off the main island’s coast, Grenada’s Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park is the world’s first underwater art gallery. Featuring 75 pH-neutral, eco-friendly art installations, the park is one of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World. Its depths range from 16 to 26 feet (five to eight meters), making it accessible to snorkelers, too. More experienced divers can explore a vibrant collection of colorful reefs and venture to iconic sites like the Boris Wreck, a 2004 tugboat teeming with barracudas, grunts, and queen angelfish off the coast of Carriacou, or the world-famous Bianca C, the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean.

Climb Higher

Inspire attendees to chase new heights, literally. From a rugged hike to the top of the 2,370-foot peak on Mt. Qua Qua Trail to a more leisurely stroll through the rainforest to the Seven Sisters Waterfalls, groups can reinvigorate their creativity while breathing in some of the cleanest air on the planet. Grenada ranks second among all countries for pure air, according to research from IQAir — evidence of the island’s environmental preservation and commitment to sustainability. The government recently launched a new Ministry of the Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, a division focused on climate-smart development that aims to make the island a hub for sustainable ocean industries.

“By prioritizing eco-friendly practices and community-driven initiatives, we are leading the way in preserving our natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations,” Liburd said. “Grenada is setting the benchmark for climate action in the Caribbean.”

Take an Island Safari

When attendees are in Grenada, they have a chance to see some wildlife they may never see again. The Mona monkey — a species that was transported aboard slave ships in the 18th century — is only found here and in Western Africa, and the appropriately named Grenada frog only exists on the island at elevations greater than 300 feet. Groups can hop in adventure buggies or Jeeps to explore the island’s most rugged terrain. 

Connecting in the Capital of Caribbean Culture

With expanding airlift and state-of-the-art infrastructure, Grenada checks the foundational boxes for meeting planners. But what ultimately distinguishes the country isn’t what’s newly built. Instead, it’s what has long defined it: its people. 

Across the more than 80 villages that make up Grenada, attendees will encounter welcoming residents who are proud to show off what makes the island special. “There is a genuine sense of community and national pride here,” Liburd said. “The locals are eager to share their culture.” 

Grenada is known as the “Spice Island of the Caribbean” and celebrates its heritage through both culinary and festival traditions.

The Jab Jab, a tradition that originated in the 1800s when enslaved Africans protested the French colonial rulers, is one of the island’s most recognized celebrations. Today, it’s a powerful symbol of freedom and synonymous with the island’s claim to fame: the annual Spicemas festival, which attracts huge crowds for music, dance, and masquerade costumes. 

While Spicemas lasts only two weeks in August, its spirit can be incorporated into programs year-round through curated performances, culinary storytelling, and local music. 

For planners,  that often begins at the table. Liburd recommends an Oil Down dinner — a hearty one-pot dish made with breadfruit, salted meat, callaloo, and coconut milk, seasoned with local spices — alongside a live cooking demonstration to showcase the island’s culinary traditions. 

Planners can incorporate the Carriacou Culture Train String Band to offer attendees lessons about the island’s musical soundtrack. They also have the opportunity to add a CSR element. The Grenada Tourism Authority collaborates with planners to help identify the most meaningful ways to support the local community, including organizing beach cleanups with residents, planting produce with local farmers, and learning the craft of boatbuilding with local artisans.

As more airlines land and new luxury properties open, Grenada’s leadership is intentionally positioning the island’s growth to prioritize cultural preservation and manageable scale over rapid saturation.

“Grenada is growing, but it’s not changing. The tourism industry is working closely with local communities to ensure that benefits are shared and that cultural traditions are respected,” Liburd said.

She continued: “We’re focused on maintaining what makes our three islands such a special place to live — because it’s those same qualities that make meetings and events here feel extraordinary.”

To learn more about bringing your group to the three islands of Grenada, visit https://www.puregrenada.com/.

This content was created collaboratively by the Grenada Tourism Authority and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.