Hotels expanding all across St Lucia, says tourism board

St Lucia’s tourism sector is poised to undergo significant expansion within the next few years, according to the country’s tourist board.

With several major hotel projects, the island’s room stock is set to increase by 2,000 rooms over the next four years.

The island has saw the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa has open its doors earlier this year, adding with 455 rooms across two hotels (one catering to families and the other adults-only).

Serenity Villas at Coconut Bay Resort also unveiled 36 luxury villas and the Harbour Club is to open in September with 117 rooms.

In September 2017 work will begin on the Fairmont Saint Lucia Resort in Sabwisha, Choiseul.

This resort is described as a unique space that integrates local nature, a low-rise building complex and a wide range of recreational facilities.

The hotel will include 120 rooms, 37 villas, three restaurants, a spa, commercial areas for local producers and traders and three swimming pools.

And the Reduit beach will be redeveloped and become the home of a luxury five-star dual-branded hotel, Curio by Hilton.

This property will be built where the Rex Resorts was previously located,a dn work is due to begin in the last quarter of 2017.

Other projects expected to begin construction soon includes the Honeymoon Bay Resort in Cannelles, which will consist of two hotels and an 18-hole golf course.

2018 onwards

Last month Range Developments signed an agreement with the government of St Lucia to acquire the Black Bay lands and develop Black Bay into an integrated luxury touristic community.

The Black Bay Master Development will consist of a hotel and villas with other amenities set on 180 acres on the southern tip of the island.

The hotel is expected to have 180 rooms and will be the central anchor of the Black Bay Master Development.

Initial site works are expected to commence in the fourth of quarter of 2017 or the first quarter of 2018, and the hotel is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

Sandals Resorts International has also confirmed plans, and will be adding a fourth resort on Saint Lucia.

The property will offer 350 rooms and suites inclusive of the exotic Sky Pool Butler Suites, all-butler signature swim-up Rondoval Suites and an infinity-edge sky pool bar. Groundbreaking for the project is set to begin in 2018.

In addition to hotel developments, the island will create and capitalise on the concept of village tourism.

“Eight fishing villages will be transformed into unique tourism villages based on their attributes and strengths,” said the Saint Lucia Tourist Board.

“These villages will be uniquely themed and development plans will be established in a participatory manner which address the villages’ infrastructure, culinary assets, architecture and capacity.”