By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

St Maarten’s landmark Maho Beach Resort has launched reconstruction in the wake of last year’s Hurricane Irma, the Maho Group announced.

This rebuild will be different, though, with plans for innovative, resilient, storm-resistant construction.

“While we always had a plan to rebuild, it was imperative to rebuild incorporating the best materials and latest storm resistant technology,” said Maho Group  President & CEO, Saro Spadaro. “We not only have the welfare of our staff and future guests to consider, but we also have a massive responsibility to the entire destination of St. Maarten to rebuild in a manner that pioneers hurricane-safe infrastructure.”

The resort’s Sky Tower building, which sustained the most damage, is undergoing a complete overhaul, stripping it down to its main structural frame.

The company is utilizing the work of TCK and LVKE building technology, a China-based, green technology consortium that is modernizing the construction industry by creating energy-efficient storm and fire resistant building materials.

The pre-fabricated, TCK and LVKE composite panels with an interior honeycomb reinforcement structure will be used throughout the hotel’s Sky Tower, including the building’s exterior envelope and all interior partitions such as the walls in guest rooms, public spaces and corridors, thereby increasing the building’s fire resistance.

In addition, new windows and sliding doors integrating argon gas filled air-gaps will be installed. TCK LVKE panels together with the new windows and sliding doors will significantly increase the building’s thermal insulation, reduce the energy required to cool the building and therefore reduce the building’s overall carbon footprint.

To ensure the proficiency and quality of these materials to withstand hurricane and earthquake conditions, The Maho Group enlisted the expertise of Reggio Calabria’s Building Future Lab, a University affiliated laboratory that tests advanced building performance simulating earthquakes and hurricanes in a controlled setting.

“We also choose these materials because it reduces construction time by as much as 30 percent when compared to traditional construction materials and we understand the importance of aiding St. Maarten’s come back as soon as possible,” Spadaro said.

The final rebuild of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa will result in a modern new look and feel throughout the hotel, according to the company, while guestrooms will receive an enhanced layout that will create more comfort and better usage of the interior space including larger bathrooms allowing in natural light.

Designed by Galo Rosa, the same designer as St Maarten’s Sonesta Ocean Point, new furniture includes ultra comfortable bedding and European standard mattresses, with a wood-based bed-frame made from sustainably harvested forests, under the Forest Certification Encouragement Program. 

The post Sonesta Is Planning a New Kind of Rebuild in St Maarten appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a new all-inclusive option in the heart of the Mexican Caribbean’s hippest enclave: Playa del Carmen.

The Reef 28 has opened its doors on the Riviera Maya, a adults-only option just a short stroll from Playa’s bustling Fifth Avenue.

It’s a hip, colorful boutique-style destination that’s a marked departure from the traditional all-inclusive in Mexico.

The Reef 28 has a total of 28 suites, all of which boast high-speed Wi-Fi, a coffee machine, USB charging stations, 24 hour room service and a rainfall shower, among other amenities.

An ocean-view room.

Dining offerings include two restaurants, one buffet and three bars, from the Mexican eatery Cachito to the Asian-inspired El Asiatico.

Cocktail spots include La Cantina de Mezcal, Lounge Bar 28 and a rooftop bar called Arriba.

Cachito, the property’s Mexican eatery.

There’s also a full menu of spa services, including beachside massages.

Stays also come with access to Playa’s Mamita’s Beach Club, set on 650 feet of beachfront close to downtown.

— CJ

The post The Reef 28, a New All-Inclusive in Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

BMR Energy, which was purchased by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group in 2016, has purchased a major solar farm in the Caribbean.

The St Croix facility, which was owned by NRG Energy, was damaged during Hurricane Maria last year.

The company will take over the power purchase agreement and restoration efforts at the solar farm.

The project has been running at less than 45 percent capacity for nearly a year, according to BMR.

“BMR Energy is an expert in developing clean energy – the team also acts as a long-term partner and is working to make a huge difference in the region,” said Richard Branson, founder at Virgin Group. “The world needs to find ways to introduce more resilient clean energy. The Caribbean has an abundance of clean energy sources, and BMR are taking great strides towards helping create zero-carbon energy supplies for years to come.”

The US Virgin Islands solar farm is the third market for BMR, which already has green projects in both Jamaica and Guatemala.

“Restoring the solar facility in Spanish Town, St. Croix, to full capacity generation is core to our mission of supporting clean energy infrastructure in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Bruce Levy, CEO of BMR Energy. “This acquisition is an opportunity to show how to build for stronger hurricane resiliency and offer greater value to the region. As the prolonged restoration in these hurricane-devastated areas highlights – with Puerto Rico being the most extreme example – we must remain committed to rebuilding our infrastructure right and successfully maintaining projects through long-term ownership.”

When restored to full energy-generating capacity, the solar farm will power nearly 1,600 homes on St Croix.

The company said it expects to complete the restoration by October.

— CJ

The post Richard Branson-Owned Energy Company Buys St Croix Solar Farm appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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