A year after Hurricane Marilyn crippled most of its hotel and tourist facilities, a renovated and restored St. Thomas stands ready to embark on what it hopes will be a banner winter season.
There's reason to believe the island won't be disappointed.The Caribbean's first Ritz-Carlton Hotel will open here Dec. 14, an event that is expected to add a new dimension to tourism here. St. Thomas' first all-inclusive resort, the former Sugar Bay Hotel, plans to open Dec. 1. That, too, should spark new interest in the island.
Just reopened is another major property, the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, and the popular Point Pleasant Resort has set a Dec. 1 reopening date. Another event expected to benefit St. Thomas is the Dec. 1 reopening after a year of renovation of the prestigious Caneel Bay Resort across the channel on St. John. And with several new cruise ships sailing the Caribbean this winter, shops in downtown Charlotte Amalie expect to be busier than ever.
For St. Thomas, these developments couldn't come at a better time. Last winter, in the wake of the hurricane, only 800 of the island's 4,000 rooms were open. And in July, the island received another blow from Hurricane Bertha, though damage was not as heavy as from Marilyn.
Creating the most excitement on the island is the coming of Ritz-Carlton, one of the world's most prestigious hotel chains. Bob Siefert, president of the St. Thomas Hotel Association, feels it will give St. Thomas a real shot in its touristic arm because of the high-end clientele it attracts.
"Opening of the Ritz-Carlton is a big vote of confidence in St. Thomas," agreed Filippo Cassinelli of the A.H. Riise Co., one of the biggest retailers on the island.
The company has taken over the former Grand Palazzo property and is putting $15 million into it to ensure it meets Ritz-Carlton standards.
"We gutted the interiors, put in new fixtures, redid the landscaping, and we're expanding the dining room," general manager Doug Brooks said of the 148-room hotel, which was built as a replica of a Venetian palace. "It's a dynamite property and it'll bring the traditional Ritz-Carlton clientele to St. Thomas."
An entirely different market is being targeted by Wyndham, which will operate the new Sugar Bay Beach Club and Resort all-inclusive.
"There isn't a club like this anywhere in the world," said Morris Moinian, one of three brothers who purchased the storm-damaged 310-room resort "as is" in June for $4.8 million. "Guests get meals, an all-night barbecue, all beverages (including alcoholic), some water sports, a nightly Broadway-style theater show, nightclub and karaoke, all included in the price."
Unlike other all-inclusives, Moinian said, the Sugar Bay has extensive convention facilities, so he believes it will be especially attractive for incentive programs.
All-inclusives are popular in Jamaica and in several other Caribbean locales and the Moinians expect this one to catch on as well. "The future of the entire Caribbean is in all-inclusives," said David Moinian.
After a year of uncertainty, one of St. Thomas' best-liked attractions may be coming back on line.
Coral World, whose underwater observatory and aquariums were badly damaged by the hurricane, is about to begin repairs, according to spokesperson Margaret Lovatt.
"The work is mostly cosmetic," she said. "The concrete was damaged, but the dome and the bottom (of the underwater observatory) are basically intact." A more severe problem, she said, was that the underwater piping systems that circulated sea water through the above-ground aquariums were damaged.
"We're about to make decisions," she said in late October. "I see the possibility we may reopen soon."
Though most of the island is back to normal, a few hotel properties still have not completed all hurricane repairs. Pavilion and Pools, for example, says it will not reopen until April. Frenchman's Reef, the biggest resort on the island, never closed, but it has 100 or so rooms it will set aside to be renovated after the winter season.
The biggest question mark has been the Hyatt Regency on St. John, a 260-room hotel closed since it was damaged by the hurricane. Hyatt reportedly is negotiating to buy the property.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you go
Getting there: American Airlines flies nonstop daily from Miami to St. Thomas, and also has flights that connect though San Juan. Prestige flies nonstop twice weekly. Other lines connect with the frequent shuttles from San Juan.
Currency: U.S. dollar.
Customs, Duty-free: Though St. Thomas is a U.S. territory, travelers still must clear customs and immigration there. Travelers may bring back five fifths of liquor duty-free, plus a sixth if one of the bottles is made in the Virgin Islands.
Driving: Cars drive on the left.
Inter-island transport: Ferries run from Red Hook on St. Thomas hourly to neighboring St. John. They make eight trips daily from Charlotte Amalie to St. John. Ferries and airliners also run to several ports in the British Virgin Islands.
Information: U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Tourism, 2655 Le Jeune Rd., Suite 907, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134; (305) 442-7200.