Luxury Caribbean hotels are continuing to reopen at a rapid pace following Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria this September. To help you keep up with the latest reopenings, Travel Agent breaks down three popular luxury hotels that have either reopened or officially announced a reopening date.
Here's what you need to know about each.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico to Reopen in October
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico has announced it will reopen in October following Hurricane Maria and a $60 million renovation.
Additionally, the property will launch The Ocean Drive Beachfront Residences and the Atlantic Drive Estates, and it also has further plans for expansion.
The $60 million renovation will include upgrades to the hotel's Plantation House, which includes The St. Regis Bar, and to the property’s signature restaurant, the seaside pool and esplanade, the spa and the oceanfront golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Also, each space and room will undergo a ground-up transformation. The 139 refurbished rooms and suites will offer a light, modern and organic aesthetic in a contemporary and residential setting.
The design is inspired by the property’s surrounding sea, sand and foliage. The new modern and light design is also seen in the Plantation House, a two-story building that greets guest upon arrival, offers views of the two-mile stretch of private beach and is home to The St. Regis Bar, featuring The Long Awaited Voyage, a mural by Puerto Rican artist Arnaldo Roche Rabell that has been restored following the storms.
The property is also announcing the launch of an $85 million beachfront, residential development, The Ocean Drive Residences. Comprising of 30 luxurious condominium residences in three beachfront buildings, The Ocean Drive Beachfront Residences at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort will offer three- and four-bedroom residences and penthouse models.
The first building is under development and is set to be completed by June of 2019. The property will additionally debut The Atlantic Drive Estates, a collection of coastal home sites located in a prime location just west of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort and will announce plans for a $30 million resort expansion to the resort. Occupying a secluded stretch of land, the expansion will add 60 oceanfront rooms to the hotel’s inventory.
Visit www.stregisbahiabeach.com
The Reef by CuisinArt Reopens Following Hurricane-Related Closing
The Reef by CuisinArt in Anguilla officially reopened on April 1, marking the modern beachfront resort’s comeback after Hurricane Irma.
The property returns with 80 accommodations, two restaurants, a revived lobby bar and lounge, and expanded wellness offerings on Anguilla’s Merrywing Bay.
The Reef is the sister property to the island’s popular CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa. It originally opened in November of 2016, but closed in September of 2017 due to damage sustained by Hurricane Irma. Following a thorough recovery and enhancements, the resort has now reopened to guests.
“During The Reef’s brief closure, the entire property was fully restored along with new flourishes, including lush beachfront landscaping and a revamped lobby bar," said Stephane Zaharia, president and general manager of The Reef, in a written release. "We are proud to once again offer guests our full suite of services, plus access to amenities from the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, which is currently undergoing restoration for its November reopening.”
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Reef has 25 Golfview Junior Suites and 25 Seaview Junior Suites, all with impressive views. Additionally, four beachfront buildings offer a collection of 30 Beachfront, Corner Beachfront, Superior and Deluxe Junior Suites. Nearly all accommodations can connect into larger multi-room suites, making them a popular choice for young families and group celebrations.
At the core of The Reef’s philosophy is a commitment to wellness. Guests can break a sweat with fitness classes, including aquatic conditioning, cycling and kickboxing in the resort’s infinity pool, as well as yoga, water sports, tennis, golf, and access to a modern fitness center.
The Reef’s “Spa to You” program has a menu of massages, reflexology, facials, manicures and pedicures delivered poolside or in the privacy of a suite.
Menus at The Reef feature fresh produce from CuisinArt’s Hydroponic Farm, as well as locally sourced ingredients like snapper, grouper and lobster.
The culinary journey begins at The Reef’s lobby bar and lounge, "On the Rock." Designed to evoke a yacht on land, this space was redesigned with chic seating, Italian ceramic tile floors and Balinese limestone framing views of the Caribbean Sea. The menu greets guests day and night with cocktails and light bites.
The Reef’s central infinity pool plays host to aquatic cycling classes, as well as aquatic conditioning and kickboxing. At the beach, the resort’s water sports offerings range from stand-up paddle boarding to glass-bottom kayaking, and snorkeling.
By land, The Reef offers tennis on two courts, as well as tee times and signing privileges at the Cuisinart Golf Club. Resort guests can also get special pricing at Aqua Park at Cove Cay.
Visit www.thereefbycuisinart.com
Four Seasons Anguilla Reopens on Schedule
Back in early January, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla announced it would reopen March 23 following months of restoration due to the impact of Hurricane Irma.
Last week, that announcement came to fruition as Anguilla welcomed back one of its most popular luxury resorts.
“Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla enjoyed significant popularity with our guests from around the world during our first year of operation,” said Vince Parrotta, Four Seasons’ president of hotel operations in the Americas, in a written statement. “Travelers and and residence owners are eager to return and we’re happy to welcome them back to the beauty of Anguilla.”
Since the resort opened as the Viceroy Anguilla in 2010 and was converted to a Four Seasons in 2016, it has garnered much buzz amongst Millennial couples traveling with other couples, as well as Baby Boomers, for its intimacy and access to multiple beaches.
“We have worked tirelessly and leveraged Starwood Capital Group’s strategic relationships around the world to reopen as soon as possible,” said Roy Shanholz, vice president of hotel asset management at Starwood Capital Group. “I have been here through every step of this process and welcoming guests back and having our employees back to work has been my goal since day one.”
Visit www.fourseasons.com/anguilla and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest travel news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260.
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