… swimming mishap last fall in Puerto Rico, Andrew was paralyzed and spent …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The greatest hotel in the US Virgin Islands is set for a comeback.

The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas, long that island’s leading resort and arguably the flagship hotel in the wider destination, is set to return this fall, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The hotel, set on a 30-acre beachfront estate on the southeastern corner of St Thomas, is now accepting reservations for stays beginning Dec. 1, 2019, according to the property’s Web site.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to our renewed resort,” the property said in a statement.

Its return will be a serious jolt of energy to a destination that has already been making an impressive tourism recovery since the storms of 2017.

The resort, set on the sand with a marvelous view of the nearby island of St John, has 180 guest rooms, each with an ocean-view balcony; a luxury spa; four eateries; an aquatic center including an infinity pool and a kids pool; and both indoor and outdoor event space.

The rebuilt property on St Thomas’ Great Bay had already completed several large-scale improvement projects prior to its closure in the fall of 2017; those include new elevators, new paint and other upgrades.

The news comes a few months after another top USVI resort, the Westin St John Resort, officially reopened its doors.

The reopening will add to a strong portfolio of both resorts and boutique hotels in the tri-island destination, from the Point Pleasant and Bolongo Bay in St Thomas to the celebrated The Fred boutique hotel in St Croix, among others.

Ritz-Carlton has a portfolio of six resorts in the wider Caribbean region.

For more, visit the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas.

— CJ

The post The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas Is Making Its Return appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Blue Diamond Resorts, one of the largest resort companies in Cuba, has completed the first phase of an extensive renovation project at its Memories Trinidad Del Bar all-inclusive hotel.

The property’s makeover included the lobby, pool, the beach area, the restaurants and all the rooms, according to the company.

Blue Diamond also added three new culinary concepts, including new Cuban, Italian and Asian eateries.

The resort’s design, inspired by Cuba’s famous colonial town of Trinidad, has a total of 241 suites, all now with amenities like plasma TVs, minibars and balconies, among others.

The company has also added its Diamond Club premium option to the property, meaning access to exclusive restaurants, beach areas and an exclusive pool.

Blue Diamond took over management of the property at the end of 2018.

— CJ

The post This Cuba All-Inclusive Has a New Look appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States. Puerto Ricans … For the same reasons, Puerto Rico was vastly unprepared when … for the same reasons, Puerto Rico still faces an unsustainable … government explicitly said because Puerto Rico was our colony, we …

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Caribbean tourism is “robust and resilient,” according to Frank Comito, the chief executive officer of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Comito, who was speaking at this week’s CHRIS investment conference in Miami, said the region’s chief economic driver was continuing to grow.

Overall, the region has seen an “exceptional” 2019 so far, growth that includes the Caribbean hotel sector, where four out of every five hotels in the Caribbean reporting a net profit in 2018, according to Comito.

That’s up from three out of four several years ago, he said.

It’s part of a strong recovery from the storms of 2017 in the region.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for growth.

Indeed, the Caribbean still has more than 80,000 vacant hotel rooms every night; filling just 10 percent of those rooms would inject nearly $2 billion annually into the Caribbean economy, Comito said.

— CJ

The post Caribbean Tourism “Robust and Resilient” appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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