BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS —The tourism industry on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts is expected to get a boost next year with the opening in February of the island-nations largest resort, the 471-room St. Kitts Marriott Resort and The Royal Beach Casino. The opening of the resort, along with other existing hotel expansions, will increase the total number of guest rooms on the island to approximately 2,000—an increase of 50%. Construction of the resort is regarded as the high point of a 30-year tourism enhancement effort undertaken by the Frigate Bay Development Corp., a statutory public/private enterprise, formed to develop 800 acres in the Frigate Bay region of St. Kitts. According to its managing director, Rudolph Morton, “Since 1972 we have been growing and enhancing our tourism product, but the Marriott resort is the single largest development project of our history. With this flagship hotel, Marriott brings credibility, marketing thrust and a valuable databank to St. Kitts tourism endeavors.” The introduction of the new resort as a cornerstone within the destinations tourism infrastructure is also promoting less-visible public and private partnerships that are having a meaningful economic influence on the nations economy. “Already we have seen interest from providers in increasing air service to St. Kitts; and there are numerous spin off benefits to various local businesses from laundry service to agricultural, fishing and floral needs of the hotel and future guests,” added Morton. In tandem with Frigate Bay Development Corp., Canadian developers are co-financing and constructing the resort, spa (opening summer 2003) and casino.
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