John Woolley has been named General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, returning to the brand and the Caribbean after a period working in Asia.
Leadership and Background
Woolley arrives at the Cayman Islands property after leading JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa in Vietnam, a post he has held since 2023. He has spent over twenty years with Marriott International, occupying senior positions in North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Prior to his role at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, Woolley acted as Area Director of Sales & Distribution covering Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. He also spent more than four years directing Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak as General Manager and oversaw The Ritz-Carlton, Bali between 2020 and 2022.
Woolley has further experience in regional management across the Caribbean and Latin America. In his capacity as Area Director for those regions, he guided revenue strategy for a collection of 18 hotels and resorts. Earlier, he acted as Director of Sales & Marketing at Aruba Marriott Resort, contributing to the property’s reopening after a US$50 million refurbishment. Additional postings have comprised duties at Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas, the launch of Marriott Port-au-Prince in Haiti, a stint at JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City, and leadership of a 23-hotel portfolio as Area Director for South Asia.
Resort Operations and Programming
As the new GM, Woolley is tasked with directing the resort’s operations and shaping its strategic plan. Spanning 144 acres, the estate lies between the North Sound and Seven Mile Beach, featuring 369 guest rooms and suites, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Grand Cayman, plus a range of dining options.
Forbes Travel Guide has awarded Five-Star ratings to the hotel, its spa and the restaurant Blue by Eric Ripert. The property also carries a One MICHELIN Key. Its food program highlights Blue by Eric Ripert, marketed as the sole AAA Five-Diamond restaurant in the Caribbean.
He will also manage the resort’s flagship events, such as The Ritz-Carlton Cayman Cookout, an annual gastronomic gathering led by chef Eric Ripert. Nearing its 18th edition, the Cookout assembles chefs and food figures for meals, tastings, demonstrations and additional culinary activities in Grand Cayman.
January 14-17, 2027 will host the 18th Annual Cayman Cookout. Woolley’s selection signals his return to a market that has been central to his professional path. His arrival coincides with the resort’s ongoing operations and programming on Seven Mile Beach.
