Sanctuary Cap Cana...open
Bridgetown, Barbados (16 Sept, 2017) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) continue to provide updates from their members in the northern Leeward Islands and the northern Caribbean following the impact Hurricane Irma.
Relief efforts are underway in a handful of the countries and both CTO and CHTA have set-up funds to assist in the efforts. CTO’s Relief Fund helps families and countries rebuild after hurricanes. For more information on CTO’s Relief Fund or to make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/hurricane-relief-fund-cto<http://www.gofundme.com/hurricane-relief-fund-cto>. Donations through CHTA’s Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund can be made via http://www.tourismcares.org/caribbean.
Following is an update regarding Irma’s impact on Caribbean destinations, as well as reports from CHTA-member hotels.
Anguilla
The Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) is open from sunrise to sunset for charters and emergency flights. The Road Bay Port at Sandy Ground is open to receive cargo.
Aid from the United Kingdom in the form of food, water, medical supplies and technical support has been arriving.
Many properties are still conducting assessments, but following is an update from select stakeholders.
Anguilla Resort Hotels
Belmond Cap Juluca: according to a statement on their website, Belmond Cap Juluca will be undergoing renovations as previously disclosed and based on assessment at this time, does not anticipate that it will open before 15 November 2018.
Carimar Beach Club The clean-up has begun and management will advise of the reopening date.
CeBlue Villas & Beach Resort – Resort had no guests during the hurricane as it was already closed for the season. The villas and resort buildings held up well against the hurricane and they are all structurally sound. The resort has begun the clean up process, and looks forward to welcoming guests for the season.
Fountain Anguilla The Fountain buildings and grounds are structurally intact. A few of the units suffered some damage from debris. Assessment and clean up are under way and the resort is expected to open for the season.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and The Reef by CuisinArt This property was significantly affected, and engineers are currently assessing the full extent of the damage. The ownership and management have said they are steadfastly committed to restoring, rebuilding and reopening, as well as doing everything possible to help and support their employees through this most difficult time.
Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort Upon preliminary review there appears to be no major structural damage to the resort. The team is now assessing the extent of the clean up required and will advise on their proposed reopening date.
Quintessence Boutique Resort The property sustained a fair amount of damage and the proposed 1 November opening will be delayed.
Zemi Beach House Zemi Beach had closed to guests in advance of the hurricane. The property held strong during the storm and will be able to welcome guests before long.
Anguilla Villas
Neveah Villa This property suffered only cosmetic damage. A clean up of the grounds is under way.
Sunset Homes Properties Spyglass Hill will be ready for reopening on 1 November; Little Butterfly survived intact.
Bird of Paradise Bird of Paradise was designed to withstand 200 mph winds. There was no structural damage to the buildings or to the roof, nor was there any damage to the contents of the villa.
Anguilla Restaurants
Blanchards received moderate damage and Blanchards Beach Shack is in great shape, requiring just a little clean-up. The owners expect to be able to open both restaurants as soon as the major resorts are open.
daVida Restaurant & Bayside The main restaurant is still intact. However, the canape on the second floor of the loft was lost. The Bar at the Bayside is still intact, but the dining area will be rebuilt.
Garveys, Pumphouse and Mango’s were devastated, while Dune Preserve, Elvis’ Beach Bar, Dolce Vita and Ripples also suffered severe damage. Jacala, Geraud’s Patisserie and Grands Vins de France all survived. Johnno’s, Dads, and Picante are still standing, but will require some repairs.
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua is reporting it is open for business with excursions, tour operators, restaurants and hotels welcoming visitors.
Restaurants and bars have re-opened including popular beach establishments such as Beach Limers, Coconut Grove, Sheer Rocks, Turners, Darkwood Beach Bar and Restaurant, Trappas, Le Bistro, and the over 150 dining options to choose from in Antigua.
Close to 2,000 of the country’s hotel room stock will be available by the end of October for the start of the peak winter season following traditional summer upgrades and renovations throughout resorts. Some of these resorts include Cocobay, Jumby Bay, Curtain Bluff, Carlisle Bay, Hawksbill by Rex Resorts, Heritage Quay Hotel, St. James’s Club, The Inn at English Harbor, and Nonsuch Bay. The first properties opening post-upgrades are Pineapple Beach Club and Blue Waters Resort and Spa on 14 September and 21 September respectively. Hotels and resorts that are open year-round are happily welcoming and hosting visitors to Antigua.
Barbuda, with its approximately 1,800 residents, was severely impacted by the hurricane which passed directly over the small island. The prime minister, Gaston Browne said 90 percent of homes were destroyed. Barbuda’s hotel infrastructure was also damaged, but with less than 100 hotel rooms the overall effect on tourism as a whole is minimal.
Updates from individual hotels on Antigua are as follows:
The Islands of The Bahamas
The Bahamas is getting back to business as airports are open in Nassau, Grand Bahama Island and on nearly all Out Islands; international flights resume, including service to some Florida airports; and ports have reopened allowing cruise ships to begin to return.
Parts of the southern islands were more heavily impacted with damage ranging from cosmetic to severe structural damage. Assessment of Ragged Island continues, but other islands, such as Acklins Island, Crooked Island, Inaugua and Mayaguana are mostly cleared. .
Bahamasair resumed service into the United States on 12 September, at the following airports: Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport; Orlando International Airport; Miami International Airport.
While airlines are operating international flights out of Grand Bahama International Airport, U.S. customs and border pre-clearance is currently unavailable and will be reinstated at a later date.
Out Islands International service has resumed from Exuma International Airport in The Exumas and Marsh Harbour Airport in The Abacos.
The majority of hotels and resorts throughout The Islands of The Bahamas are operating as usual or are expected to reopen on their regularly scheduled dates. Reservation holders are encouraged to contact their respective hotels for more information.
Nassau and Paradise Island hotels received no damage. While many remained open, others are resuming normal operation:
The Exumas
Bimini
Grand Bahama Island hotels began resuming operations on 13 September.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation will be releasing updates on islands, hotels and services on Bahamas.com/storms.
British Virgin Islands
In a statement Governor Augustus Jaspert highlighted security, relief and restoration of services to the British Virgin Islands. He said ports were opened to receive food and supplies. He is hoping to open the airport to commercial flights very soon. The full statement is available via http://bit.ly/2xBYH3F.
If you are concerned about the wellbeing of a relative or loved one who was in the territory at the time of the storm, please contact bviddmirma@gmail.com<mailto:bviddmirma@gmail.com>. This email account is monitored by the staff of the BVI Department of Disaster Management and will assist with all inquiries. As the country works to restore communications including mobile phone and internet service, this is the most efficient channel to seek information about those remaining in the territory.
Updates from individual hotels in the British Virgin Islands are as follows:
Dominican Republic
Reports indicate the following about hotels in the country:
Guadeloupe
La Toubana Hotel has reported it is reopening at the end of October.
Martinique
Tourism Commissioner Karine Mousseau has advised that the country was not impacted by Hurricane Irma and is providing logistical and humanitarian support. On 11 September, two ships from the Martinique customs division took food and water to Saint Martin. A unit of 39 Martinique firefighters was dispatched on 13 September to assist local efforts–ongoing search and rescue, home safety evaluations and road clearing. The island’s population is also participating in a solidarity initiative set up by the Prefecture of Martinique to gather all the individual offers of assistance, from room and board to those left homeless to financial help.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s tourism infrastructure has allowed the island to resume regular operations of hotels, sites and attractions beginning this week. The island is continuing to welcome travellers with planned vacations in September and beyond, and has also become a transient hub for travellers across the Caribbean.
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company reports that nearly all hotels are operational and are receiving guests.
Marriott properties including San Juan Marriott, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and AC Hotel by Marriott welcomed approximately 700 guests from St. Thomas, St. Maarten and St. John.
* Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Rio Grande, has welcomed approximately 300 guests from St. Thomas. Additionally, crew members from the St. Thomas air traffic control centre are staying on the property.
* The staff members of FEMA are staying at the InterContinental San Juan
El Conquistador Resort, The Meliá Coco Beach, Hotel El Convento and all Marriott and Hilton properties on the island, among others, are also in full operation, taking reservations for future travellers, and welcoming new guests.
Visitors with questions about travel to Puerto Rico can call the PRTC hotline at 877.976.2400 or call their hotels directly for more information.
Updates from individual hotels in Puerto Rico are as follows:
St. Barthelemy
It has been reported that St. Barth’s Gustav III airport has reopened for commercial operations and is accepting flights from carriers such as Air Antilles (out of Guadeloupe) and Tradewind Aviation (out of San Juan).
Electricity has been restored in Gustavia and St. Jean and the island’s water production is back to normal levels.
French president Emmanuel Macron visited the country on Wednesday to assess the damage and bring supplies.
Updates from individual hotels:
St. Kitts
American Airlines’ daily non-stop flights to St. Kitts’ Robert L, Bradshaw International Airport from Miami have resumed on 15 September, and the Saturday JFK non-stop service resumes on Saturday 16 September. Seaborne Airlines’ daily non-stop flights to St. Kitts from San Juan also resumes on 16 September. All hotels and resorts are fully operational and the Park Hyatt St. Kitts remains on schedule to debut November 1.
Cruise lines have resumed scheduled port calls to St. Kitts, with passengers from The Carnival Fascination enjoying the island’s various attractions and activities last Friday. Over the course of the next week, a total of four vessels are scheduled to dock at Port Zante, including Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas on September 21. With the arrival of the Carnival Magic on September 20, St. Kitts expects to welcome it’s one millionth passenger this year. A historic first for the island, the occasion also raises St. Kitts to marquee port status.
St. Martin (French)
The president of the Collectivité of Saint-Martin, Mr. Daniel Gibbs made the following remarks about the situation since the passage of Hurricane Irma:
“Phase 1 of the post-hurricane organization consisted of managing the urgency in terms of taking care of the wounded, sick or distressed, but also the tourists by organizing the evacuation from the island. The second task was the security of the territory by the massive arrival of French military and police forces. The first phase is accomplished and the security of the territory is under control.
The Collectivité of Saint Martin is now working with its partners on Phase 2 on the post-hurricane organization which consists of:
Most of the tourists have departed the country. A group of experts are expected to arrive and evaluate the hotels, residences and guest houses to help in the rebuilding of the tourism infrastructures.
The meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, 12 September, gave an opportunity to President Gibbs to explain the urgent needs of the community, particularly in terms of reconstruction of the territory, helping the population and businesses to restart a normal life, through accompanying measures that will be defined within the partnership established between the State and the Collectivité.
Phase 3 has already been the subject of in-depth work by the president and his teams with two major objectives:
President Gibbs and his team will do everything in their power to restore the territory’s attractiveness and warmly thanks all the tourism partners and operators around the world who are supporting us in this difficult time and are still willing to assist us in promoting the destination in order for Saint-Martin to become again one of the most appreciated destinations in the Caribbean region.”
St. Maarten and St. Martin Hotels
Turks and Caicos Islands
Providenciales International Airport (PLS) reopened for scheduled flights on, Monday, 11 September
Several of the hotel properties were scheduled for annual closure prior to Irma; some properties have now elected to remain closed, to assess any damage to their properties and looking to reopen by the beginning to middle of October 2017.
United States Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas)
The Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Executive Director, David Mapp advised the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix is open and fully operational with American Airlines flights resuming on 12 September. All seaports on St. Croix are open and fully operational.
Mapp said on Friday 15 September that commercial flights will resume at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas once the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is fully functional. Damage to the roof is preventing TSA from operating its equipment and repairs were hampered further by today’s heavy rains.
Local officials will meet with TSA and the airlines Sunday in order to determine when normal operations will resume, he said.
Humanitarian and military flights are scheduled for this weekend. Scheduled charter flights from major airlines are expected to begin Monday.
Those with travel reservations are advised to contact their airline for updates on schedule changes.
Effective the night of September 13: The curfew on St. Thomas and St. John has been reduced to 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
The USVI department of tourism is requesting the postponement of all scheduled visits to St. Thomas and St. John.
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo toured hurricane-ravaged areas of St. Thomas on 15 September and announced at a news conference afterward that his state is providing support with 100 National Guard troops, 30 state troopers, humvees and a vehicle called a “gator”, which can access areas difficult to reach.
The following updates have been shared by individual properties in the U.S. Virgin Islands:
St. Croix
St. John
St. Thomas
Delta Airlines has provided the following updates regarding its service in the region:
Station
Flights Suspended
Flights to Resume
St. Maarten (SXM)
Canceled all flights beginning Wed. Sept. 6
Restart TBD (pending infrastructure assessment)
St. Thomas (STT)
Canceled all flights beginning Wed. Sept. 6
Delta humanitarian flight. Commercial flights to resume Wed. Sept. 13 (pending infrastructure assessment, government approval)
San Juan (SJU)
Canceled all flights beginning Thurs. Sept. 7
Restarted operations Fri., Sept. 8
Punta Cana (PUJ)
No Impact
No Impact
Santiago (STI)
Canceled all flights beginning Wed. Sept. 6
Restarted operations Fri., Sept. 8
Port-au-Prince (PAP)
No impact
No impact
Providenciales (PLS)
Canceled all flights beginning Wed. Sept. 6
Flights to resume as scheduled, Wed. Sept. 13
Nassau (NAS)
Canceled all flights beginning Fri. Sept. 8
Flights resumed Mon. Sept. 11, no further impact
Georgetown/Exuma (GGT)
Will cancel beginning Sat., Sept. 9
Flights to resume as scheduled, Wed., Sept. 13
Marsh Harbor (MHH)
Will cancel beginning Sat., Sept. 9
Flights to resume as scheduled, Sat. Sept. 16
Freeport (FPO)
Will cancel beginning Sat., Sept. 9
Flights to resume as scheduled, Sat., Sept. 16
Havana (HAV)
Canceled flights Sun. Sept. 10
Flights to resume Tues. Sept. 12
JetBlue has advised the following regarding flights:
Following are pending infrastructure assessments: