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With the Caribbean a hotbed of hotel launches and renovations, Abigail Challenor rounds up some of the projects to keep an eye on
Anguilla
The Anguilla government has slated tourism as a key priority, with a new strategy in development and more investment planned. A number of new properties are also due to open in 2016, adding to the island’s bed capacity. Zemi Beach House is set to open on February 8 at Shoal Bay East. With 115 rooms and suites, the high-end beachside property will feature the Thai House Spa with indoor and outdoor areas and a range of dining options including Stone, a fine dining restaurant with a focus on seafood and local specialities. All rooms have a wireless Bluetooth sound system. The Reef by Cusinart Hotel and Spa will open next to Cusinart Golf Resort & Spa in Rendezvous Bay. The boutique property will add 80 rooms and is expected to open in November 2016. Guests will have access to the facilities at the existing property including its 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman. Kishti Villa Collection at Meads Bay gained two villas, Kishti East and West, in June. Each has six bedrooms and can be hired as an entire estate or separately from three bedrooms.
Antigua & Barbuda
A new hotel in Antigua is The South Point Hotel, which features 20 one-bedroom suites with kitchenette and living space. A hotel spa is due to open in 2016. Meanwhile, Barbuda Belle on the island of Barbuda opened over the summer. The remote family-owned hotel has just six beachfront bungalows and a gourmet seafood restaurant.
Barbados
Sandals Barbados will expand following a successful first year at its St Lawrence Gap-based property. A new Luxury Included resort connected to the current 280-room hotel is due for completion towards the end of next year. The new resort will complement the existing Sandals Barbados and will include 186 new suites, a dedicated check-in area, an expanded spa and new entertainment facilities. The island also welcomed another all-inclusive resort, Sugar Bay Barbados in the Historic Garrison Unesco World Heritage Site this month. The new four-star, 138-room resort is a sister property to Bougainvillea Beach Resort. It features a steakhouse, Japanese restaurant, international buffet, beach bar and grill, cafe and a pub, bars and spa treatments. It also has beach and garden wedding venues, and a free wedding package for stays over a week.
British Virgin Islands
A new addition to the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio, The Branson Estate on Moskito Island will be available to rent from early 2016. The island is two and a half miles from Necker Island where Virgin Limited Edition has an existing property and the estate features three villas: Headland House, Mangrove Villa and Beach Villa offering 11 rooms for at least 22 guests. On the island’s eastern side, guests can enjoy the recreation area and beach house, home to a wraparound infinity pool, hot tub, swim-up bar, nearby tennis pavilion plus dining options.
Jamaica
Following the opening of Sensatori Jamaica in Negril last year, Karisma Hotels & Resorts has plans to expand its presence on the island. Construction is under way for a neighbouring hotel, Azul Seven, which will add 149 rooms. New family-orientated resort Sunscape Splash Montego Bay will launch on December 23, with a kids’ check-in experience, 24-hour access to dining and beverage options, 308 rooms, an Explorer’s Club for children aged three to 12 and the Core Zone for tweens and teens.
Mexico
Renovation work at Hotel Escensia was completed in October following the property reopening under new management in July 2014. The hotel, located in Xpu-Ha on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, has also gained two new villas. New owner Kevin Wendle, an American entrepreneur, has added a collection of art and antiques, including artwork by celebrated Spanish and Latin American artists such as Pablo Picasso, Fernando Botero and Eduardo Santiere. The new villas Villa Bel-Ha and Villa Xpu-Ha sleep eight to 10 and 16-21 respectively and Villa Xpu-Ha has a 24-hour private butler. In addition, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya opened on November 1 and Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa is due to open in March 2016. The 434-suite Secrets resort, set close to Mayan ruins Tulum and Coba, is an adults-only property offering the brand’s Unlimited Luxury all-inclusive board basis. It features an infinity pool plus 11 smaller pools, six a la carte restaurants, an international buffet, a cafe and grill, six bars and lounges, and nightly entertainment. Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, also adults-only and on the Unlimited Luxury all-inclusive board basis, has 526 suites, three pools, a spa, nine eateries, seven bars and lounges, xhale club and a party pool.
Tobago
The island will welcome two new hotels courtesy of EFM Hospitality next year with Manta Lodge, which has undergone a full refurbishment and is due to open in the early part of 2016, and The Tobago Great House Resort & Spa, slated to open in the autumn. Manta Lodge in Speyside will feature 22 rooms, the Green Moray Bar & Restaurant and a freshwater swimming pool. The property is well located for exploring Tobago’s top diving areas. The Tobago Great House Resort & Spa is set in the Grafton Caledonian Wildlife Sanctuary with views of the Caribbean Sea and the Buccoo Reef. The four-star resort will have a total of 56 rooms including 20 sea view suites. It will feature a large lagoon-style pool, a quiet pool and a water park area as well as a spa.
St Barths
Hotel Eden Rock will unveil a new suite this winter. The Christopher Columbus Suite is located on the famous rocks that split St Jean Bay. The cliff-edge position offers views over the stretch of ocean that Columbus sailed when he first discovered the island. For larger groups, the Columbus Suite can connect with the Howard Hughes Loft, Greta Garbo Suite and De Haenen Suite to offer a three double-bedroomed suite, which together offer the largest hotel suite accommodation on the island.
