The British Virgin Islands (BVI), with more than 90% of its accommodations and attractions damaged in the storms. As the official sailing capital of the Caribbean, yachting and cruising sectors were vital to the territory’s initial bounceback, however, as a new decade and era of travel begins, the BVI’s hotel sector has utilized the rebuilding process to become stronger and better than ever, including innovative sustainability initiatives across the board.
“The BVI has already had an incredible year with 55% of our hotel inventory currently open for business, and we expect close to 60% to be back online by the end of 2019,” said Sharon Flax-Brutus, Director of Tourism, British Virgin Islands Tourism Board & Film Commission. “Maintaining their unique histories while updating amenities for the modern traveler, our hotels and resorts have used this time after the storms to renovate and rebuild with sustainability and resilience in mind.”
Here is an update on new hotel developments and re-openings:
HOTEL & VILLA REOPENINGS:
Baraka Point Estate
Rented to only one group at a time, Baraka Point is an exclusive beachfront estate offering barefoot luxury, resort amenities and excellent service from a dedicated staff of 5 plus a private chef. Boasting 280º views of the Caribbean Sea, the property enjoys a built-in sense of privacy along one of Virgin Gorda’s quietest beaches and will be opening in the first quarter of 2020. The villa features a main pavilion with infinity pool, media room, guest office with WiFi internet, games pavilion with pool table and wet bar, a gym and relaxation pavilion for spa treatments plus 6 king size ocean view master suites and 2 kids rooms, with a bunk bed in each.
Bitter End Yacht Club
In the 2020 winter season, Bitter End will debut all new world-class marina facilities complete with a two-story, open-air marina complex and lounge with expansive views of the North Sound and the setting sun. Later in 2020, the club will introduce enhancements to the nautical village including yacht management programs, a casual beachfront restaurant and bar, private event space and an epicurean market for provisioning. Following on the heels of the marina and waterfront rebuild, the resort development will include a variety of unique accommodations and hospitality amenities. Bitter End has partnered with architecture and design firm Simplemente Madera, an eco-friendly organization that aligns with Bitter End’s sustainability initiatives.
Mango Bay Resort
On Virgin Gorda, Mango Bay Resort welcomed guests again November 1, 2019. Mango Bay’s six private villas reside along a long sandy beach nestled between pristine waters and tropical surroundings. With the atmosphere of a home combined with the comfort of hotel service, Mango Bay is a private escape filled with water activities and relaxation.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay
Long regarded as one of the world’s greatest getaways, Rosewood Little Dix Bay (pictured above) will open in January 2020 following a four-year closure. Inspired by its natural setting with structures positioned to follow the lines of the landscape, the exclusive resort has been re-imagined for today’s ultra-luxury traveler by New York-based design team Meyer Davis. 80 new guestrooms, suites and villas will offer a level of refinement unrivaled in the Caribbean. Spanning 500 acres on half a mile of beach, the resort will include four distinct dining venues, two pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center and Sense®, A Rosewood Spa set high on a bluff at the cliff’s edge. A family-friendly destination, Rosewood Little Dix Bay will offer a wide array of activities including a tennis center, Rosewood Explorers Club, hiking trails, watersports and beach drops.
South Sound Villa
South Sound Villa, reopening on January 17, 2020, has expanded by roughly 50% incorporating seven new bedrooms and eight bathrooms accommodating up to 16 guests. The luxury villa located on Virgin Gorda features a swimming pool with a large deck, a dock for swimming and complimentary kayaks. The villa can’t be missed as it features a distinctive pink exterior with a bright teal roof.
Valley Trunk Estate
Originally named after the seasonally nesting Trunk Back turtles, Valley Trunk is located on 19 acres of land on Virgin Gorda. Valley Trunk has reopened its doors this December with completely renovated interiors including furnishings and fittings, offering guests unparalleled privacy, beauty and luxury. Situated within the exclusive and very private tropical landscaped beachfront estate, eight individual bedroom suites are housed within several villas. All have been carefully located to ensure utmost privacy, exploit the panoramic vistas, and harmonically blend with the natural surrounding beauty. The estate is rented on an exclusive basis only.
Wyndham Lambert Beach Resort
Formerly known as Lambert Beach Resort, the resort has reopened as a Wyndham-branded property in accordance with the original pre-storm plans on November 1, 2019. Over 14 acres, the 38 guest rooms in eight villa-style buildings Lambert includes a lavish swim up pool bar, an outdoor verandah with breathtaking sea views for private dining and intimate happy hours. Guests are even greeted with rose petals sprinkled throughout their room as a charming welcoming amenity.
ADDITIONAL NEWS & HOTEL UPGRADES:
Anegada Beach Club
Famed in the British Virgin Islands for its glamping accommodation options, Anegada Beach Club will add five premium beachfront palapas in 2020 to its portfolio. The property has also opened a brand new spa, Touch of the Caribbean Day Spa, which is the only spa on the island. Lastly, an enhanced farm to table experience utilizing its new organic garden is available at the poolside restaurant.
Cooper Island Beach Club
Cooper Island reopened in 2018 and is known for its eco-friendly initiatives such as producing unique beers at its solar-powered brewery and recently implementing a turtle tagging program for guests to catch, tag and gain valuable information on native turtles to add to the BVI’s database. 85% of Cooper’s power is provided by 280 photo-voltaic panels saving millions of carbon emissions. Vegetation is vast throughout the resort as guests can enjoy stunning ocean views surrounded by pomegranate, sweet potato, kale, spinach, and pineapple plants.
Necker Island
Sir Richard Branson’s private island paradise is highly committed to sustainability, introducing three new wind turbines this year allowing the island to run off 80% renewable energy. In 2020, new sustainable initiatives will include locally sourcing, composting, collecting rain water, removing disposable toiletries, and new employee uniforms made from recycled plastics from the ocean. Necker continues to rebuild and construction is set to be completed by summer 2020.
Oil Nut Bay
Spread across 300 acres on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda, Oil Nut Bay features villa rentals and freehold property ownership. New this year on property, Nova Restaurant, showcases global cuisine and fresh flavors with a menu using high-quality ingredients that are locally grown. The overwater restaurant and stunning bar are accented by a suspended pool and luxurious lounging spaces, including a series of overwater hammocks and daybeds. As a part of the new marina complex, the property offers day passes for marina guests to enjoy the hotel’s exclusive amenities.
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina
The property continues to thrive with new ways to get to the island, including a recently launched water taxi from St. Thomas with Dolphin Water Taxi and a new private charter transportation and accommodation package from San Juan to Beef Island with Fly the Whale. In addition, Scrub appointed a new executive chef this year, Chloe St-Cyr, bringing new life to onsite restaurants Cardamom & Co. and Donovan’s Reef. Transparent, LED equipped kayaks are also new on property (YOLO Adventures BVI) providing unparalleled views of the ocean floor.
While in the British Virgin Islands, don’t miss the new wreck of the Willy T, which was sunk in August as an interactive pirate themed dive site. A new “sharkplaneo” dive site was sunk in late November featuring three planes damaged in the hurricanes of 2017, that were redesigned as shark-like planes. They have been sunk near the Dog Islands. Both projects are initiatives of Beyond the Reef, aiming to create an abundant and diverse marine ecosystem within the Caribbean that simultaneously encourages local community education and pride in the surrounding underwater habitat.
For those looking to offer their support to the BVI, the most vital way to help — as always — is by booking a trip and patronizing local hotels and businesses. The Tourist Board will also continue running the Seeds of Love program to replant the islands’ indigenous trees and vegetation in Tortola, Virgin Gorda and other islands.