Press Conference On Reopening Of Frenchman’s Reef Happens Today

ST. THOMAS — A press conference being organized by Diamond Rock Hospitality, the owners of the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, and the Mapp administration will take place today at 10:00 a.m. at the shuttered resort in St. Thomas, Government House announced Tuesday.

Though the press release announcing the press conference was scant on details, The Consortium has learned that the press event will be to provide information about the reopening of the resort, which closed following the passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

During a meeting with the owners in November 2017, Governor Kenneth Mapp said he was told that the cost to rebuild the resort — which the owners have pledged to construct anew — had grown to $400 million, a realization that was said at the time would more than likely move the 18-month reopening timeline further into the future, as the construction costs associated with the prior 18-month estimation was $200 million.

The resort laid off over 400 full-time and part-time employees following the passage of Hurricane Irma, depressing further an economy already struggling.

An announcement today giving a solid timeline for reopening would go a long way in helping boost morale, while giving Department of Tourism officials guidelines on the scale of the territory’s promotion for overnight guests with limited rooms available.