The Agency proudly participated in the sold-out edition Exploring the Caribbean 2025 conference at the 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Theme “Gateway to Growth: Investing in the Future of the Caribbean,” The event brought together government leaders, developers, institutional investors, real estate agents and service providers from across the Caribbean. Honored guest speakers included the Honorable Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Ms. Phylicia Woods-Hanna, Director of the Bahamas Investment Authority.
“Thank you to everyone who traveled to participate and share ideas in this vital conversation. By focusing on the region as a whole and seeking to better understand trends and developments in the Caribbean, we are making ourselves better advisors to all our clients, developers and buyers alike,” said Sean O’Neillthe organizer of the conference and Managing Partner of both The Turks and Caicos Islands Agency And The Jamaica Agency.
Sold out sessions and smart speakers
The conference opened with an energetic presentation led by Rebecca StevensonManaging Partner of The Jamaica Agency, Danny LoweManaging Partner of The Bahamas Agency, Fleur ColemanManaging Partner of The Cayman Islands AgencyAnd Trevor MusgroveManaging Partner of The Turks and Caicos Islands Agency.
Their session, “Where we stand: the real estate market in the Caribbean,” has outlined the region’s current investment climate, tourism trends, development activity and the momentum driving continued demand in key island markets. The conversation provided a framework for the day’s programming and provided clarity on where the market is going and what is driving its growth.
Mauricio Umanskifounder and CEO of The Agency, participated in the panel “Unlocking Value: New Hotspots and Investment Trends.” The discussion highlighted the region’s most promising and emerging markets, the rise of lifestyle-driven investment behavior and the long-term opportunities associated with infrastructure, hospitality and sustainable development. Ms. Phylicia Woods-Hanna discussed the importance of communication between the public and private sectors and why having a one-stop shop for development promotion and approval in the Bahamas has been a key to success there.
Stefan CohenManaging Partner of The Cayman Islands Agencyjoined the panel “A new definition of luxury and experience in the Caribbean,” It offers perspective on how high-end design, wellness-forward amenities and experiential hospitality continue to redefine the meaning of luxury living in island environments. His insights highlighted the Caribbean’s unique ability to combine natural beauty with a world-class real estate offering.
Meanwhile, Magnus Ström from Ström Architects underlined the need for design that emphasizes ‘quiet luxury’ and the excitement within the Caribbean for development that encourages innovation and limited environmental impact. “The shift from the current mood in Britain to the energy in Miami was striking,” Ström noted. “Here the atmosphere was positive, forward-looking and full of intention. People talked about growth, creativity, investments, opportunities and collaboration. It was refreshing and reminded me how much mentality is shaped by the environment.”
Understanding the future of development also requires an understanding of new technology and economic growth in industries beyond tourism. Led by Bobby Chen of The Agency Bahamas and Jason Kinsale of Aqualina “Digital assets, real impact” explained the real-world application of digital currency and how to work with digitally focused asset holders to use these assets to make real estate purchases.
The importance of residency in a global market was also an interesting topic, according to Julian Gilpin James Hamilton Architects along with Randy Hart, helped attendees understand the processes, considerations and variables The homes in GoldwynnKashmie Ali from Pinnacle Hospitality Consultantsand Daniel Altneu van Ask Cristin.
The discussion was concluded “Building tomorrow: the future of Caribbean real estate and development”. Moderated by Julie Faupel from REAL Global and headed by Hon. During the conversation, Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands, explored future growth opportunities within the Caribbean and the need for development that is beneficial to investors, buyers and locals. Minister Jolly spoke with excitement about what the future holds, saying: “Look at what we have been able to achieve so far and now that we have gained experience from that, there is no limit to what we can achieve in the future.”
The Agency’s global network is in place
The event brought together leaders from across The Agency’s global network, further strengthening our presence in the Caribbean, along with nearby markets and tourism markets. They all brought deep knowledge of their markets, cross-market insights and a collaborative spirit that enriched the event and deepened connections across our global network.
Participants included Tim Swanson And Lisa Swanson, Managing Partner and Managing Director of The Florida Keys Agency; Zar ZanganehManaging Partner of The Las Vegas Agency; Steve BaileyBroker and Managing Partner of The Agency Oakville; Victory over the LevitesManaging Partner of The Panama Agency; Alison Melton Managing Partner of The head of the Hilton AgencyAnd Sean O’NeillManaging Partner of The Turks and Caicos Islands Agency And The Jamaica Agency; as well as Daniel Tzinker, Yotam Dahan, Megan Leib, Ana UribeAnd Justin Knops by The Miami/Ft. Agency Lauderdale.
A celebration of Caribbean culture and hospitality
In between sessions, guests enjoyed a beautifully prepared lunch from 1 Hotel South Beach’s culinary team, followed by a Junkanoo rush that brought music and energy to the afternoon. The atmosphere captured the magnetic charm of the region, with its warmth, hospitality and unmistakable zest for life.
The sold out Exploring the Caribbean 2025 conference boosted the area’s appeal, making it one of the world’s most attractive regions for luxury real estate and long-term investment. “It is very exciting for me to see what is going on in the Caribbean, there are so many opportunities and so much growth. Part of the Agency’s international expansion is focused on the Caribbean because of all these opportunities. The Agency remains committed to supporting the continued growth of the Caribbean, forging strong relationships and contributing to the vision that shapes its future,” said Mauricio Umansky.
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