On the left is the Frenchman’s Cove of a bustling Marriott, while on the right, the Frenchman’s Reef is unopened awaiting major repairs delayed by the coronavirus. (Source file photo by Bethaney Lee)
Since the 2017 hurricanes, the number of hotel rooms in the U.S. Virgin Islands has dropped from 4,500 to 2,450, according to the USVI Hotel and Tourism Association, and trips to the area have decreased by more than 60 percent, according to Lisa Hamilton, president of The Association says it’s time to be optimistic.
Lemonade is made from lemons, she said.
Hamilton was confirmed by Mandy Cartwright, Director of Marketing at Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix. Cartwright told the source on Friday that Carambola occupancy was better than expected this season, ranging between 70 and 80 percent.
“The USVI is in demand because it is open. Many of the other Caribbean destinations are having problems, ”she said.
Cartwright said the Carambola Resort still had work to do on its 150 rooms to bring it up to Marriott standards, but she was hoping work would begin this year and be completed by 2022. Work on its main restaurant has already started, which is expected to be open next month. Three of the four conference rooms are now also available for events.
Government Employees Retirement Systems sold Carambola to Davis Bay LLC, a subsidiary of Rubicon Holdings, last July. The facility is managed by Aimbridge Hospitality.
Sarah Sterose, deputy general manager of Hotel on the Cay, the 54-room resort on the five-acre bay in Christiansted Harbor, said the resort’s occupancy rate is around 75 percent. She said she had hopes for the year ahead.
View of the Carambola Resort with Hamms Bluff in the background. (Source file photo by Susan Ellis)
She declined to address a comment made by Hamilton that “proposals for rehabilitation of Protestant Cay are being evaluated”. The cay is owned by the Virgin Islands government and Senator Kurt Vialet has questioned whether it is getting the best use.
Hamilton told the source one of the reasons she is optimistic about the territory’s future is that some resorts that had reached “mature status” have now been almost completely rebuilt.
“We are encouraged that Caneel Bay Resort is moving towards a solution that will allow it to reopen as it is both the largest employer and economic engine on St. John,” said Hamilton.
Caneel Bay Resort operated under an agreement with the National Park Service (RUE). Laurance Rockefeller, who donated much of the land for the creation of the Virgin Island National Park, transferred the 170 acre property to the National Park Service in 1983. The RUE allowed the resort operator to manage the property, but did not pay rent, with the understanding that when the agreement expires in 2023, all assets will revert to the federal government.
The National Park Service initiated the next phase of the environmental impact assessment there on Thursday. The assessment is a step in determining the future of the resort.
Hamilton also pointed out that another Marriott hotel is important for tourism recreation.
“The area needs the marketing power and economic contribution of the Marriott on Frenchman’s Reef,” she said.
Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas plans to rebuild and reopen a $ 200 million resort in the summer of 2022.
The beach at the Hotel on the Cay. (Source file photo by Linda Morland)
“The entire tourism industry, not just the hotels themselves, depends on rooms that are filled with guests,” said Hamilton.
She was also encouraged to hear that the Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort and Casino in St. Croix has reopened. Divi’s website says there will be a gentle reopening in April. From April through September, Divi offers a room-only experience for adults and children.
However, when the renovations are completed in October, Divi plans to open an all-inclusive experience for adults only. Its website states that the resort “will have a fresh, Caribbean-chic feel. In our newly designed rooms and suites, guests enjoy luxurious comfort. Our amenities offer a wide range of active offers. … Guests will love the resort’s new food and drink options, including authentic Italian and American classics, brick-oven pizza, pan-Asian fusion, gourmet coffee and pastries, and fresh selections on a hot lava stone. In addition, drinks continue to flow in our lively bars. “
Hamilton quoted Governor Albert Bryan in their press release. In his speech on the state of the territory, the governor said the Virgin Islands are “ready to recover from this pandemic more than any of our neighbors in this region”.
The hotel association has around 300 members in the entire area, which are divided into two districts. Hamilton said the club used to send out a monthly newsletter, then switched to a weekly newsletter after the storms, and finally started posting daily updates when the COVID restriction kicked in. The association was founded 40 years ago.
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