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#1 PREMIER ST. THOMAS MEETING & INCENTIVE RESORT TO UNDERGO $45 MILLION TRANSFORMATION BY EDITH BILLUPS Starting October 2011, travelers visiting the iconic Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort will experience the results of a $45 million makeover that will provide meeting and event planners with a wide range of new offerings and venues. Long considered one of the finest properties in the US Virgin Islands, the May 1- September 30 renovation will require the full closure of the main tower of Frenchman’s Reef and its facilities. The plan will give the 302 guest rooms at the resort’s main tower a com- pletely new interior that incorporates a fresh color scheme and modern furnishings. Restoration plans also include an updated and expanded spa and health club, a redesign of the outdoor common areas, including the pool and water features, and a makeover of the “Windows on the Harbor” restaurant. During a recent visit, I got to check out the ambitious project and take in a host of popular activities that included a half day sail on a gorgeous catamaran that visitors can rent for a trip from St.Thomas to St. John’s. I also explored some of the island’s most popular restaurants, includingWikked, located on the waterfront at Yacht Haven Grande and rode the Skyride Tram at Paradise Point that offers stunning views of the town of Charlotte Amalie. I arrived on a Thursday and was greeted by the resort’s Director of Sales, Joyce Dore-Griffin, a fixture at the property for the past 16 years.The resort, a popu- lar meeting and incentive destination for US companies due to its no-passport requirements for US citizens and abundance of island activities, has scheduled this second phase of renovation in order to stay ahead of the curve and maintain its position as an island leader, said Dore- Griffin. The first phase of the St. Thomas resort project was revealed in December 2010 with the completion of the Sea Cliff wing overlooking the Morning Star Beach Resort, comprised of 80 newly renovated and luxurious- ly appointed guest rooms. While the second stage of renovation is underway with the full closure of the main tower of Frenchman’s Reef and its facilities, Havana Blue Restaurant, the Sand Bar at Morning Star Beach, Coco Joe’s Bar, Star Market Coffee House and the Morning Star Beach and pool areas will remain open for visitors to enjoy. That night I had the pleasure of dining with the resort’s charismatic general manager, Jose Gonzalez, in the resort’s stunning Beacon Lounge. The private dining room is located in the resort’s impressive wine cellar and is an option for groups, rehearsal dinners or private par- ties. According to Gonzalez, “We are tremendously excited to be announcing the final phase of our renovation, which has been the culmination of many years of careful planning to ensure our guests’ ultimate satisfaction. We have listened to feedback from many of our most loyal event planners as to how we might improve the resort experience for them and their attendees and have addressed these in order to guarantee continued success for the resort and our customers.” Gonzalez noted that despite the five month shut down, “We are not concerned about business not coming back because we are the biggest hotel on the island and a top destination. However, we want to continue to get our repeat customers back, and we had lost some. I would be concerned if we hadn’t made the decision to spend the money.” Gonzales explained that the company “is lucky in that we have the Sea Cliff Wing and the Morning Star, which has rooms all on the beach, so we don’t have to shut down completely. Many companies don’t have that advantage during a renovation.” The Sea Cliff wing and the boutique Morning Star Beach Resort have a combined 176 rooms with available meeting space between them and will be fully opera- tional and uninterrupted while the renovation takes place at “The Reef” on the cliff above. The Frenchman’s Reef renovation will introduce a Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 23