Aimbridge Hospitality plans to open and manage two Marriott resorts at Frenchman's Reef on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, this fall as part of a franchise agreement with Marriott International brands.
The two properties will be the $350 million Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman's Reef and the Seaborn at Frenchman's Reef, Autograph Collection.
The Westin will occupy the space of the original Frenchman's Reef, long a Marriott signature property on an elevated peninsula on St. Thomas. That property has been closed since the devastating hurricanes of 2017; reconstruction of the resort was suspended in March 2020 following the arrival of Covid.
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The Westin Beach Resort & Spa will offer 392 rooms, including 28
suites; six restaurants and lounges; three oceanview pools on an
expansive pool deck with a pool bar and cabanas; a Heavenly Spa by
Westin; a private dock and beach; shopping outlets; and meetings space.
Set
along a stretch of Morningstar Beach, the Seaborn -- formerly Noni Beach and before that the Morning Star Marriott Beach -- will comprise 94
rooms; four open-air restaurants and lounges; an infinity-edge pool and
swim-up bar; a health club; and meetings space.
The two resorts
will be connected by Frenchman's Reef beach. Guests at both resorts will
have access to all amenities, including a private catamaran for snorkel
trips and sunset sails.
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"Frenchman's Reef has served as a
pivotal vacation and celebration setting for many years, and we look
forward to reaffirming its status as a luxury destination with two new
resorts under our management," said Rob Smith, executive vice president
of operations at Aimbridge Hospitality.
The two properties are owned by Fortress Investment Group, which acquired them from Diamond Rock Hospitality in April 2021 and continued the reconstruction that had been started by Diamond Rock.