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TOURISM - BRITNIE TURNER, FOUNDER & CEO, AERIAL GROUP: "WE DON'T TAKE FROM THE EARTH MORE THAN WE GIVE BACK" (British Virgin Islands)
The visionary entrepreneur has transformed a private Caribbean island into a sanctuary for global changemakers seeking deep wellness and purpose. |
Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - British Virgin Islands - Industry economy
- Interviews and portraits
- Tourism - Interviews - Industry leaders
Interview made by Sonia Taourghi on Monday 04 August 2025
 Britnie Faith Turner, founder and CEO of Aerial Group
Photo credit © The Aerial BVI
But Turner's true masterpiece lies in the British Virgin Islands, where she has created The Aerial, BVI, a 43-acre private island resort, that can host only 32 guests at once and redefines luxury travel through what she calls "deep wellness."
Hearing what she has to say, and the goal might only appeal to a few, looking for purpose in luxury. The success of her island however suggests a growing demand for more grounded products, both in mind and literally. Here, rescued zebras offer healing kisses, transformational experiences replace traditional amenities, and guests don't just escape the world – they discover how to make a difference in it.
In conversation with Journal des Palaces, Turner reveals how the hospitality industry can evolve beyond surface-level luxury to create experiences that truly transform lives and heal the world.
Journal des Palaces: What inspired you to start an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, and how did you select your location?
Britnie Faith Turner: The Aerial, BVI was brought to life from a vision to create a space that helps people heal, elevate, and transform themselves, so they can, in turn, help heal, elevate, and transform the world.
I have had a passion for solving global issues like human trafficking, suicide, disease, and abuse for many years. I realised that issues like these continue to happen because the people who have the means and ability to solve these issues are either eliminating themselves or drifting through life without stepping up into their purpose and owning their power to change the world.
The island itself is one of those locations known for being part of the world's sacred spaces. There has always been something very transformative about it. I brought the resort to life by inviting every element to embody next-level luxury and wellness, which is peace.
Here, guests don't just escape the noise of the world; they step into a space that inspires them to reconnect with themselves and reimagine what's possible for their life. I call it 'deep wellness', an experience that truly harmonises and elevates the mind, body and spirit.
How do you differentiate your resort from others in the Caribbean in terms of guest experience and service?
The Aerial, BVI, isn't just a resort. It's a sacred space for awakening.
While most Caribbean destinations offer indulgence and escape, The Aerial, BVI was intentionally created to be something far more powerful. In this place, the world's changemakers, visionaries, and purpose-driven leaders come to awaken to their highest truth. It's not about checking out of life, it's about waking up to it. Fully.
This private island retreat was designed with one mission: to elevate people into alignment, mind, body, and spirit. We infuse every corner of the island with intention. Every experience is curated to guide guests toward a deeper connection with themselves and the divine.
What sets The Aerial, BVI apart is our deeply personalised, all-inclusive approach. Whether guests design their own schedule or follow one of our transformational itineraries, every day is an invitation to reconnect and rise.
Even the food is on mission. Our gourmet meals are intentionally crafted to restore balance, eliminate what causes dis-ease, and fuel longevity and peak performance.
With space for only 32 guests at a time, The Aerial, BVI delivers something no mega-resort can: intimacy, presence, and a level of personalised care that creates safety for true inner transformation.
How does your resort approach environmental sustainability and support local communities?
Sustainability isn't something we added onto The Aerial, BVI; it's the foundation we built it on.
From the beginning, the mission was clear: create a private island experience so aligned with nature, people, and purpose that it becomes the new standard. We weren't interested in doing things the way they've always been done. We wanted to prove what's possible when you build with intention at every level.
For us, sustainability means we don't take from the earth or from people more than we give back. And we live that out daily.
We built much of the island from its own resources. The stone and coral that naturally washed ashore now form the walls that surround our guests.
Every animal on Redemption Ranch was rescued from abuse, slaughter lines, or kill pens. They've healed and now they help heal others. That's the kind of cycle we believe in.
All guest vehicles are fully electric. Silent, clean, and exactly how transportation on an island should be.
Our products are non-toxic, organic, and made by people we've intentionally partnered with because of how they do business, not just what they sell.
This isn't about guilt-driven "green" choices. It's about creating something so beautiful, so functional, and so aligned that people want to build, live, and travel this way.
What elements of local culture or history have influenced the overall experience at your resort?
When I decided to bring this island to life, I knew it could never be about building something on the BVI; it had to be something built with it, for it, and in reverence to it.
The British Virgin Islands have a powerful history of resilience. From colonial occupation to natural disasters, such as the devastating hurricanes of 2017, the people here have rebuilt and risen time and time again. That spirit of perseverance and pride is something I deeply respect, and it's embedded in every part of this island's DNA.
From the beginning, I made it a priority to hire locally for every role possible. Our hosts, chefs, guides, and wellness experts are not imported; they're rooted here. And I don't just see them as staff; they are the storytellers of this land.
We also created give-back programmes specifically for the youth of the BVI. From hands-on gardening and sustainable farming education to healing programmes for children affected by trauma, to hospitality training that builds real career paths, we're planting seeds of empowerment that will grow long after a guest leaves.
Our cuisine prioritises ingredients grown or caught by local farmers and fishermen, honouring not just freshness, but economic recovery and community pride.
I believe luxury should never come at the cost of culture or community. At The Aerial, BVI, it doesn't. The deeper purpose behind this place is what makes the experience feel so unforgettable.
How do you curate the all-inclusive packages, and what sets your dining or spa offerings apart from other luxury resorts?
At The Aerial, BVI, everything we offer is designed with one clear intention: to help our guests heal, elevate, and transform.
This isn't a resort where you check out of your life; it's where you check into yourself. Our all-inclusive experience isn't about stacking amenities; it's about curating powerful, purposeful moments that meet you exactly where you're and move you toward where you're meant to be.
Guests work with our team to build a personalised itinerary, encompassing everything from breathwork to horseback riding, sound healing to strategic goal-setting sessions. Some people come to reset, while others come to breakthrough. Our job is to hold the space for both.
What sets our dining apart is that every ingredient on the plate has a purpose. The food is anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, and designed to fuel your highest performance, both mentally and physically. We grow a large portion of it here on the island at the Island Farmacy and source the rest locally to ensure everything is as fresh, healing, and energy-giving as possible.
Our spa is an extension of that same mission. These aren't generic treatments. This is deep work – cranial sacral therapy, sound baths, energy healing, and massage techniques that target more than muscles. Guests don't leave feeling "relaxed", they leave realigned.
What are your guests' most requested activities or experiences, and how do you ensure they feel personalised?
One of the most surprising and unforgettable experiences on the island is our Zebra Kissing session at Redemption Ranch. Yes, actual zebras, rescued from slaughter, now trained to kiss guests. It's wild, meaningful, and totally unforgettable. But more than that, it's symbolic of what we stand for – taking what was once discarded and turning it into something extraordinary.
Redemption Ranch is also home to horses and other animals who've been through unthinkable trauma and now help others heal. Our equine therapy sessions are among our most requested. These are powerful, guided interactions where the horses mirror what's happening internally for our guests. It's real, it's raw, and no two sessions are ever the same.
Another favourite? The Tribal Beach Gym, which my husband and I designed entirely from custom-crafted wood. No metal machines, no mirrors, no distractions. Just your body, your breath, and the elements. I wanted to create a space where people could reconnect with movement in a way that feels primal because your body craves that connection to nature. It's one of the only gyms in the world like it, completely customised for this island and our guests.
Guests also love our beach yoga, breathwork sessions, and glow-in-the-dark paddleboarding under the stars. Everything we offer is designed to challenge, restore, and reawaken. And everything is completely personalised.
How do you stay on top of emerging trends in luxury travel and continue to innovate in your resort offerings?
To be honest, we're not following trends, we're creating them.
The Aerial, BVI, was never meant to fit into what luxury travel has been. It was designed to become the new definition, where breakthrough, connection to source, and human optimisation are the standard. We've had countless other destinations try to replicate what we're doing, and that only reinforces that we're leading in the right direction.
But this isn't about being first for the sake of it. I've spent years asking bigger questions. What truly restores people? What reactivates purpose? What allows someone to come alive again and stay that way? I've taken those questions to God, and the answers have come little by little, through a process that's both sacred and ever-evolving.
Innovation here isn't just about amenities, it's about energetics. It's about creating spaces, experiences, and environments that enable people to reconnect with their inner source. That's the real luxury.
We're not building things for applause. We're building the science of breakthrough because the world doesn't need more five-star properties. It needs more people fully alive, walking in their greatness, and using their gifts. That's what we're here to support.
So while others are watching what's next, we're listening – spiritually, intuitively, and strategically – and building what's needed before the market even knows to ask for it.
What are your plans for expansion or new offerings at the resort?
We're currently developing HEAL, a transformative new offering that reflects everything The Aerial, BVI was created to do, but in a deeper, more focused, and more expansive way. HEAL isn't just a wellness programme. It's a whole new way of living.
HEAL will transform The Aerial, BVI, into a sanctuary for full-spectrum healing, where science, spirit, and nature converge to help people reset, restore, and rise. We're building a Healing Centre & Treatment Facility offering a range of cutting-edge therapies, intentionally curated for those seeking deep restoration.
We're also creating long-stay healing villas, designed for guests to stay 30 to 90 days in full immersion. These extended stays will allow individuals to fully immerse themselves in the healing journey, whether recovering from illness, re-aligning after burnout, or rebuilding their life from the inside out.
But what truly sets HEAL apart is what's always been true of this island: it helps people find the breakthrough they came for. When you're here, everything unnecessary falls away. Distractions, noise, fear, pressure – it all quiets. And what remains is that one thing that needs healing.
We don't promise miracles; we simply create an environment where they can happen. We help people reconnect with the Creator who has been the light inside them all along.
HEAL is just the beginning. I see these healing sanctuaries around the world, spaces where people don't come to escape life, but to step fully into it.
 The Aerial BVI resort offers 17 rooms on the British Virgin Islands
Photo credit © The Aerial BVI
 Mindfulness room at the Aerial BVI resort on the British Virgin Islands
Photo credit © The Aerial BVI
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