RNCollins
TUG Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2016
- Messages
- 3,329
- Reaction score
- 1,200
- Points
- 399
- Location
- Borscht Belt
- Resorts Owned
- Tradewinds, Divi, Quarter House, Casa Ybel
One year after storms' one-two punch, islands getting back on their feet
https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribb...-two-punch-islands-getting-back-on-their-feet
By Gay Nagle Myers / September 2, 2018 / Travel Weekly
“It's been one year since the Caribbean suffered a one-two punch from the most destructive hurricane period in decades to hit the region.
Of the 33 Caribbean island nations and territories, eight were significantly affected by the 2017 hurricane season.
Where are they now?
Let's take a look at the rebound and the significant progress of recovery, rebuilding and reopening that's taken place on these islands in the months since Irma and Maria brought them to their knees....
St. Maarten/St. Martin: The Dutch/French island continues to recover at a steady pace.
The Princess Juliana Airport on St. Maarten is open, although it is under reconstruction, with completion slated for the first quarter of 2020. Temporary arrival and departure lounges are in place.
Major carriers have increased their flights each month.
Grand Case Airport on St. Martin has daily flights to and from Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Barts, and Seaborne is flying daily to and from San Juan.
Electricity and cell service has been restored islandwide, although service can be spotty at times.
On the Dutch side of the island, there are currently several hundred bookable rooms available, including Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina and Oyster Bay Beach Resort.
The Sonesta Ocean Point Resort will reopen its adults-only resort on Nov. 15 and its family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa on Feb. 1.
The all-inclusive Planet Hollywood resort, the former Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, will reopen the second quarter next year.
Inventory in St. Martin, which stood at 1,500 rooms in hotels, villas and guesthouses pre-Irma, will be up to between 500 and 600 rooms by December.
Grand Case Beach Club has pushed back its soft opening to Nov. 15, according to Steve Wright, general manager.
"Improvements will include all new furniture; 43-inch TVs; new doors, locks and hurricane shutters; upgraded high-speed WiFi propertywideur pool brought back to pre-Irma beauty; and art from local artist Roland Richardson throughout the guestrooms and rebuilt reception and administrative offices," Wright said.
The 83-room Belmond La Samanna plans to reopen Dec. 10, and Le Beach Hotel will follow sometime in 2019.
The former Riu Palace St. Martin will be converted into a Secrets resort in 2019, following a $20 million renovation that will add a rooftop pool and swim-up suites, among other enhancements.
More than 90% of all on-island activities are operating; most of the restaurants on St. Maarten are available as are several restaurants in Grand Case on the French side....”
Rainforest Adventures' Rockland Estate ecopark debuted its Flying Dutchman zipline ride on St. Maarten within weeks of last year's hurricanes, giving a much needed boost to its tourism product. Photo: Travel Weekly
https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribb...-two-punch-islands-getting-back-on-their-feet
By Gay Nagle Myers / September 2, 2018 / Travel Weekly
“It's been one year since the Caribbean suffered a one-two punch from the most destructive hurricane period in decades to hit the region.
Of the 33 Caribbean island nations and territories, eight were significantly affected by the 2017 hurricane season.
Where are they now?
Let's take a look at the rebound and the significant progress of recovery, rebuilding and reopening that's taken place on these islands in the months since Irma and Maria brought them to their knees....
St. Maarten/St. Martin: The Dutch/French island continues to recover at a steady pace.
The Princess Juliana Airport on St. Maarten is open, although it is under reconstruction, with completion slated for the first quarter of 2020. Temporary arrival and departure lounges are in place.
Major carriers have increased their flights each month.
Grand Case Airport on St. Martin has daily flights to and from Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Barts, and Seaborne is flying daily to and from San Juan.
Electricity and cell service has been restored islandwide, although service can be spotty at times.
On the Dutch side of the island, there are currently several hundred bookable rooms available, including Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina and Oyster Bay Beach Resort.
The Sonesta Ocean Point Resort will reopen its adults-only resort on Nov. 15 and its family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa on Feb. 1.
The all-inclusive Planet Hollywood resort, the former Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, will reopen the second quarter next year.
Inventory in St. Martin, which stood at 1,500 rooms in hotels, villas and guesthouses pre-Irma, will be up to between 500 and 600 rooms by December.
Grand Case Beach Club has pushed back its soft opening to Nov. 15, according to Steve Wright, general manager.
"Improvements will include all new furniture; 43-inch TVs; new doors, locks and hurricane shutters; upgraded high-speed WiFi propertywideur pool brought back to pre-Irma beauty; and art from local artist Roland Richardson throughout the guestrooms and rebuilt reception and administrative offices," Wright said.
The 83-room Belmond La Samanna plans to reopen Dec. 10, and Le Beach Hotel will follow sometime in 2019.
The former Riu Palace St. Martin will be converted into a Secrets resort in 2019, following a $20 million renovation that will add a rooftop pool and swim-up suites, among other enhancements.
More than 90% of all on-island activities are operating; most of the restaurants on St. Maarten are available as are several restaurants in Grand Case on the French side....”
Rainforest Adventures' Rockland Estate ecopark debuted its Flying Dutchman zipline ride on St. Maarten within weeks of last year's hurricanes, giving a much needed boost to its tourism product. Photo: Travel Weekly