Industry Insider: Turks and Caicos with Tom Rutherford, General Manager of Amanyara
“I actually believe the greatest hidden gem in Turks isn’t a specific place, it’s the pace.”
Tom Rutherford
General Manager, Amanyara
Tom’s Turks and Caicos Recommendations
Restaurants
Da Conch Shack
”A well-loved local beach restaurant, and on Wednesday nights it turns into a full Caribbean celebration. Dinner with toes in the sand, a vibrant Junkanoo parade, and an evening of live music, DJ sets, and even the occasional fire show. It’s lively, authentic, and only about a 15-minute drive from Amanyara.”
Coco Bistro
“One of the island classics. It’s a beloved island staple for good reason, set under swaying palms with consistently excellent Caribbean-inspired cuisine and good service.”
Time to Visit
Early Summer
”While many guests swear by the December–April season, I’ve grown especially fond of late spring and early summer months (late May, June, and early July). The water is calm and clear like glass, the days stretch a little longer, and there’s a relaxed rhythm to island life.”
Cocktail
Amanyara Mojito
”One of the all-time favorites has to be the Amanyara Mojito and it is a bit of a legend around here. It’s impossibly fresh: everything squeezed, pressed, juiced, shaken – Touch of Champagne… Our cocktails in general are world-class. The team works with incredible ingredients, and every drink feels like a little celebration of island life. It’s wellness with a twist.”
On the far western edge of Providenciales, where the sea glows turquoise, sit the impeccable pavilions and villa of Amanyara. It’s one of the Caribbean’s most iconic hideaways, not just because of the glass-calm waters, but because it somehow pairs major wow-factor with a total sense of calm. At the helm is Tom Rutherford, a South African–born hotelier whose global career with Aman has spanned game reserves, jungles, temples, before landing on this dreamy stretch of sand. We sat down with Tom to talk about life at Amanyara, the unique spirit of Turks & Caicos, and why the resort’s magic reveals itself in both the grand gestures and the quiet in-betweens.
The Journey to Calm
Prior to arriving in Turks, Tom spent time at some of the best properties in his home country, running both Johannesburg’s Saxon Hotel and Singita Sabi Sand. The two destinations represent opposite ends of South Africa’s hospitality scenes, but both shaped his philosophy: “These environments shaped my thoughts on what it truly means to create spaces that are both grounding and unforgettable,” he says. His decade with Aman then carried him through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, deepening his cultural understanding and appreciation for craftsmanship and experience design. “Amanyara represents the next evolution of that journey,” he says. “The Caribbean brings vibrancy and warmth all its own, and pairing that with Aman’s design philosophy has been incredibly inspiring.”
So what does a typical day look like when you’re running an island paradise? According to Tom, nothing is typical. “No two days are ever the same,” he says. You might find him walking the property’s boardwalks at sunrise, greeting returning guests, checking in on major development projects, or simply observing the natural ebb and flow of resort life. “Those everyday moments on the ground keep me closest to the heart of Amanyara.”
Of course, “everyday” is a relative concept here, and when we asked Tom about the most over-the-top requests his team has ever gotten from clients, he had to laugh. “We would need more than a few minutes to cover them all. Our guests keep us wonderfully on our toes,” he says. “It’s ranged from chartering a private jet so a team member could fly to the U.S. to pick up something a guest forgot at home, all the way to someone asking if we could bring an elephant to the island for their celebration. We can’t always say yes to every idea (especially the ones involving wildlife), but we do our best and these requests remind us of two things: the trust our guests place in us, and the privilege of working in a place where imagination and hospitality meet every single day.”
Elephants or not, Amanyara is famous as a sanctuary for honeymooners and babymooners, but Tom insists it’s equally great for multigen families. Villas have pools and generous indoor/outdoor common areas, so the layout works for all ages, and through a partnership with Camp Laurel South, younger guests can spend their days immersed in a multitude of activities. “Parents can enjoy true downtime while kids are busy with marine biology sessions, sports, crafts, or island exploration. And of course, there are the simple joys: ice-cream socials in the villa living room, mocktail classes on the patio, and sunset swims together.”
And while the fact that you don’t need to leave the property is a selling point, Tom is quick to point out that local nature and culture is integral to Amanyara’s spirit. Located within a protected reserve, there’s a reverence for the beauty of the island’s topography and foliage. “Jean-Michel Gathy’s timeless architecture settles into the natural landscape of Northwest Point nature reserve,” Tom says. “There are very few places in the world where design and environment speak so harmoniously.” Touches of local culture appear throughout the year: festive celebrations are accompanied by the rhythms of Junkanoo, and there are ongoing partnerships with artisans, like a new Caribbean weaving class taught by island makers.
But when he’s asked for his favorite “hidden gem” in the area, Tom doesn’t name a cove or cafe. “The greatest hidden gem in Turks isn’t a specific place, it’s the pace,” he says. “Guests often arrive with a long list of things to do, but this is one destination where you don’t want to over-schedule yourself. Some of the most memorable moments here happen in the in-betweens: the quiet sunset after an all-day cruise or the stillness of early morning when the water looks like glass. Those are the moments travelers often miss when they’re racing from one activity to the next.” It’s advice that he tries to follow on his own rare days off, when you’ll find him on the water, fishing with his son. “I’m an avid fisherman, and taking my son out with me has become one of my favorite rituals. Watching him learn, improve, and get excited about every catch has brought a whole new joy to it.” Unsurprisingly, for guests looking to explore beyond the resort, he recommends a boat day above all else - the best way to enjoy reef snorkeling, cay hopping, or just admiring the coastline from the waterline.
Food lovers shouldn’t miss local favorites like Coco Bistro, and anyone visiting mid-week should try the lively Wednesday Junkanoo night at Da Conch Shack, complete with live music, dancing, and toes-in-the-sand dining. And around the resort, his favorite treat is the Amanyara Mojito, which is made with fresh-squeezed lime juice, expertly shaken, and topped with Champagne. Or, as Tom calls it: “Wellness… with a twist.”
Finally, we asked what must be in your suitcase when you board the plane for the islands. Tom’s answer was typically reassuring: “You need very little for Amanyara. A few breezy outfits, swimwear, something you can slip on for dinner and maybe the intention to slow down… everything else, we have covered. And if you forget something, chances are you won’t miss it.”
