Mapp Unveils Transaction Team For Luxury Four-Star Resort On St. Croix

ST. CROIX — Striking an optimistic tone at the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting on Thursday, Governor Kenneth Mapp spoke about a myriad of development plans for this island, and revealed the transaction team who will be working to bring the promised four -star luxury “branded” resort here.

According to the governor, experts say a first class resort affiliated with an internationally known brand is what’s needed to attract the flights and commerce necessary to truly develop the big island’s tourism industry.

The transaction team members will include Dept. of Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Attorney Joel Holt, Government House Chief Counsel Emile Henderson, Finance Commissioner Valdemier Collens, Chief Economist Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson and St. Croix hoteliers Mr. Jack Pickle and Ms. Elizabeth Armstrong.

The governor told Chamber members that the territory could expect a growing number of visitors as the national economy improves and American travelers have an increased desire to stay within the security of the United States. Adding a major resort on St. Croix, he argued, would bolster the island’s appeal.

“Now is the time to make sure our infrastructure is in place so we are able to attract new visitors to our shores,” he said.

The governor first announced the hotel at his State of the Territory address (S.O.T.A.) in January, and said his administration would unveil, before the end of 2016, a 250-room 4-star hotel development on the big island, however he did not go into detail in regards to where on St. Croix it would be built, or the company backing the project’s development.

“In 2003, the Public Finance Authority commissioned a destination study by HVS International pertaining to the future development of hotels and meeting facilities for the island of St. Croix.

“I have asked the PFA to have the destination study updated. It is my administration’s objective to send to this body before year’s end a development project for the construction and operation of a branded hotel facility of at least 4-stars and not less than 250 rooms for the island of St. Croix. In the coming days, I will announce a project team of persons from the public and private sectors who will assist the administration on putting together a transaction deal with a major brand for this facility,” Governor Mapp said during his S.O.T.A.