The Sands at Grace Bay resort has made several property-wide enhancements that will be completed before the busy winter travel season.

The resort’s award-winning Hemingway’s Beachfront Restaurant has added an expansive retractable awning that offers guests additional shade from the sun and an even more enjoyable open-air dining experience just steps away from the beach. A newly installed heater in the resort’s main swimming pool will keep guests comfortably warm during the cooler months. Additionally, the resort has undertaken a green initiative by installing an environmentally friendly Bionest wastewater treatment system to irrigate the lush resort grounds and gardens.

Scheduled for completion by December 2012, all 114 studio and suite accommodations are receiving the following bathroom enhancements: Travertine stone shower, bathtub, flooring and baseboards; Kohler fixtures; curved shower curtain rods; cast iron slip resistant bathtubs; and a fresh coat of paint.

The Sands at Grace Bay has added stand-up paddleboards to their list of complimentary guest offerings, which include free use of kayaks, Hobie Cats, snorkeling and windsurfing gear, and bicycles.

The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association recently awarded two employees of The Sands at Grace Bay their prestigious “Employee of the Year” and the “Heart of Hospitality”. The resort’s Hemingway’s Restaurant was named “Restaurant of the Year” and The Sands at Grace Bay received TripAdvisor’s 2012 “Certificate of Excellence” award for consistently achieving outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.

The Sands at Grace Bay is currently offering a 4th Night Free promotion applicable for all room categories, for travel to the resort now through December 22, 2012.

The Sands at Grace Bay, www.thesandstc.com.