Le Sereno in St. Barts
After being hit by devastating back-to-back hurricanes, Irma and Maria, in 2017, the Caribbean was in near ruin. The infrastructures of various islands were decimated, leaving many people without power, access to clean water, or even homes. Tourism, the region’s most important economic driver, took an even bigger hit. Yet, recovery is in sight, with STR reporting hotel revenue reaching nearly $12.5 billion in 2018. In addition, tourism is expected to see a 4.3 percent increase to the region this year, according to figures from tourism development agency One Caribbean. Here’s a look at three islands that are coming back from the brink and welcoming visitors once again.
Puerto Rico > The U.S. territory is still overcoming the effects of Hurricane Maria, yet hotel occupancy rates have remained steady, peaking at 80 percent in March 2018, a 4 percent increase from the year prior, according to STR. Most of the island’s hotels are up and running, including the El San Juan Hotel, which went through an extensive renovation by New York firm Jeffrey Beers International before the storm, where Beers’ focus “was to restore the historical and iconic elements of the property while layering in contemporary design elements,” he says. Joining the Curio Collection property is the historic Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, refreshed by Wilson Associates (SB Architects handled the architecture of the original). The palette was kept simple so “the eye is constantly led to the view,” says director and principal Michael Crosby. “You feel transported.”
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Further down the beach in the rapidly transforming Condado district of San Juan is the new 96-room Serafina Beach Hotel, the first hotel to open post-storm. ICRAVE’s sleek design was informed by the surroundings, with blue, green, and gray hues recalling the island’s natural palette. To connect with nature, guestrooms offer unobstructed views of the ocean, while the 50-foot-long freshwater infinity-edge pool “sits low along the breaking waves, which are just inches away, pulling the sights and smells of the ocean onto the pooldeck,” says the New York firm’s director Jesse MacDougall.
Serafina Beach Hotel
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort also underwent an extensive $60 million renovation following Hurricane Maria. Set on 483 pristine acres, local designer Nono Maldonado and HBA’s San Francisco office devised a concept that thoughtfully mimics Puerto Rico’s natural beauty, dripping in tranquil shades of white, blue, and warm gray. “The new look is contemporary and refined,” Maldonado says. Organic shapes, subtle patterns, and soft textiles create a relaxed and sophisticated ambiance. “It is the lushness of the landscape that frames and awards an immediate pleasure to the senses,” he adds.
St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort
Dominica > The secluded island of Dominica stands out in the Caribbean as a lush paradise sought more for its mountainous landscape than its beaches. Despite the damage from Hurricane Maria, a few big brands are planting their flag here, including the summer openings of Marriott’s Anichi Resort & Spa and Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski. “There’s nothing like it at this kind of scale,” says Spain-based architect Simeon Halstead, managing director of Simeon Halstead + Associates, who partnered with Bangkok interiors firm M.A.X Studio on the Kempinski project. “We were there when Hurricane Maria hit and devastated the island,” he recalls, so the hotel is constructed to withstand the elements. Framed in concrete, it’s also integrated into the surroundings, replete with a pinkish gray paint that matches the volcanic stone on the island. Natural granite covers walkways, while timber—sourced locally from sustainable forests—swathes the interior. Because it’s built into a national park, “we’ve been careful not to disrupt the ecosystem,” he says. For an island unlike anything else in the Caribbean, Halstead predicts the resort “will be a gamechanger.”
St. Barts > The hideaway haven for the rich and famous was not safe from the wrath of Hurricane Irma, causing the island to lose $1.4 billion in damages. However, St. Barts is gradually making a comeback with the resurrection of high-end resorts, including Hotel Le Toiny, Hotel Christopher, Villa Marie Saint-Barth, and the intimate beachfront property Le Sereno. “After Hurricane Irma, we had the unique opportunity to completely reimagine the hotel while still making it feel the same,” says Sereno Hotels president Luis Contreras. The 39 intimate bungalows now take into account the potential environmental impact by adding solar panels, LED lighting, and sustainably sourced wood and stone.
