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I was following the ongoing fight over the potential for this hotel a few years back but got lost. I now see that the developers won the fight. Now they are calling in the world renowned <span style="font-weight: bold">Jumeirah</span> company of Dubai which has become famous for these great human achievements in Dubai:
I am guessing this is going to be a place like the Peter Bay Development on nearby St. John seen here (in part).
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<span style="font-weight: bold">Dubai company to manage luxury hotel proposed for Botany Bay, St. Thomas</span>
By ALDETH LEWIN
Tuesday, September 23rd 2008
ST. THOMAS - The Dubai-based luxury hotel brand Jumeirah has been chosen to manage the upscale hotel, amenities, and residences slated for the Botany Bay development on St. Thomas' west end, developers Timber Resorts announced Monday.
As part of the agreement, the $400 million to $500 million project will be renamed the Jumeirah Botany Bay Resort.
"We knew here at Botany Bay we had to have the right hotel operator," said David Burden, chief executive officer of Timber Resorts. "Their depth was very, very impressive."
"We're so proud to have them, it's going to broaden the market for the U.S. Virgin Islands," Burden said.
The Jumeirah Group is a 10-year-old company that became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004. The holding company is almost entirely owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.
Jumeirah has seven luxury hotels and resorts located in London, New York and Dubai. The most famous is the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab - the world's tallest all-suite hotel - which has become the symbol for Dubai's extravagant wealth and jet-setting clientele.
<span style="font-weight: bold">This will be the company's <span style="text-decoration: underline">first</span> foray into the Caribbean market.</span> They also manage the Wild Wadi water park in Dubai, the Talise Wellness spa brand and Jumeirah Living - luxury residences managed by the company.
In addition, <span style="font-weight: bold">Jumeirah has founded their own accredited four-year hospitality school in Dubai</span>, the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.
<span style="font-weight: bold">To show their commitment to the territory, one local student will be offered a full ride to the the hospitality school for all four years,</span> Jumeirah Executive Chairman Gerald Lawless said Monday.
"We really do believe in the value of tourism," Lawless said.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said the arrival of such a high-end brand in the territory will give the Virgin Islands a leg up on the regional competition.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. agreed and said he hopes the announcement fuels even more investment in the territory.
"That a company as world renowned as Jumeirah would come to the Virgin Islands sends a message to other resort developers," deJongh said.
"What we have is good, but what we're getting is even better," he added.
After years of wrangling with local environmental groups and an extensive Coastal Zone Management permitting process, Timber Resorts secured the permits needed to develop the 397 acres surrounding Botany Bay and Sandy Point in 2007.
The project includes 84 hotel rooms, situated in nine separate buildings, 30 timeshares or fractional real estate units, 30 privately owned hilltop villas and up to 20 privately owned grand estates. There will also be pools, a spa, and a beach house that will replace the one currently located on the property.
The 30 timeshare-like units will be three- and four-bedroom units. For a one-eighth fractional ownership, individuals will shell out about a half million dollars.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The 30 hilltop villas, located above Sandy Point, will be wholly owned and will sell for about <span style="text-decoration: underline">$5 million each</span>.</span> The 20 grand estates will be sold as lots for private development; three are already under construction.
Both the hotel and the residences will be managed by Jumeirah. With the luxury hotel and resort brand is officially on board, the proposed designs will be reviewed and some changes may be made, project director Greg Spencer said.
The developers are anticipating that a few minor amendments may be made to their major CZM permit. Spencer said he expects the process to take about five months and he hopes to break ground by next summer. The project's completion date is set for the end of 2011.
The developers are working with the State Historic Preservation Office and their own contracted archaeologist to ensure the numerous pre-Colombian artifacts and sugar mill ruins located on the property are either protected or properly recovered and catalogued.
Timber Resorts also plans to use solar power for a large share of their development.
Spencer said the development will create 250 to 300 construction jobs and once completed, the resort will hire about 200 employees.
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I am guessing this is going to be a place like the Peter Bay Development on nearby St. John seen here (in part).
================================================== ======
<span style="font-weight: bold">Dubai company to manage luxury hotel proposed for Botany Bay, St. Thomas</span>
By ALDETH LEWIN
Tuesday, September 23rd 2008
ST. THOMAS - The Dubai-based luxury hotel brand Jumeirah has been chosen to manage the upscale hotel, amenities, and residences slated for the Botany Bay development on St. Thomas' west end, developers Timber Resorts announced Monday.
As part of the agreement, the $400 million to $500 million project will be renamed the Jumeirah Botany Bay Resort.
"We knew here at Botany Bay we had to have the right hotel operator," said David Burden, chief executive officer of Timber Resorts. "Their depth was very, very impressive."
"We're so proud to have them, it's going to broaden the market for the U.S. Virgin Islands," Burden said.
The Jumeirah Group is a 10-year-old company that became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004. The holding company is almost entirely owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.
Jumeirah has seven luxury hotels and resorts located in London, New York and Dubai. The most famous is the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab - the world's tallest all-suite hotel - which has become the symbol for Dubai's extravagant wealth and jet-setting clientele.
<span style="font-weight: bold">This will be the company's <span style="text-decoration: underline">first</span> foray into the Caribbean market.</span> They also manage the Wild Wadi water park in Dubai, the Talise Wellness spa brand and Jumeirah Living - luxury residences managed by the company.
In addition, <span style="font-weight: bold">Jumeirah has founded their own accredited four-year hospitality school in Dubai</span>, the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.
<span style="font-weight: bold">To show their commitment to the territory, one local student will be offered a full ride to the the hospitality school for all four years,</span> Jumeirah Executive Chairman Gerald Lawless said Monday.
"We really do believe in the value of tourism," Lawless said.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said the arrival of such a high-end brand in the territory will give the Virgin Islands a leg up on the regional competition.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. agreed and said he hopes the announcement fuels even more investment in the territory.
"That a company as world renowned as Jumeirah would come to the Virgin Islands sends a message to other resort developers," deJongh said.
"What we have is good, but what we're getting is even better," he added.
After years of wrangling with local environmental groups and an extensive Coastal Zone Management permitting process, Timber Resorts secured the permits needed to develop the 397 acres surrounding Botany Bay and Sandy Point in 2007.
The project includes 84 hotel rooms, situated in nine separate buildings, 30 timeshares or fractional real estate units, 30 privately owned hilltop villas and up to 20 privately owned grand estates. There will also be pools, a spa, and a beach house that will replace the one currently located on the property.
The 30 timeshare-like units will be three- and four-bedroom units. For a one-eighth fractional ownership, individuals will shell out about a half million dollars.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The 30 hilltop villas, located above Sandy Point, will be wholly owned and will sell for about <span style="text-decoration: underline">$5 million each</span>.</span> The 20 grand estates will be sold as lots for private development; three are already under construction.
Both the hotel and the residences will be managed by Jumeirah. With the luxury hotel and resort brand is officially on board, the proposed designs will be reviewed and some changes may be made, project director Greg Spencer said.
The developers are anticipating that a few minor amendments may be made to their major CZM permit. Spencer said he expects the process to take about five months and he hopes to break ground by next summer. The project's completion date is set for the end of 2011.
The developers are working with the State Historic Preservation Office and their own contracted archaeologist to ensure the numerous pre-Colombian artifacts and sugar mill ruins located on the property are either protected or properly recovered and catalogued.
Timber Resorts also plans to use solar power for a large share of their development.
Spencer said the development will create 250 to 300 construction jobs and once completed, the resort will hire about 200 employees.
SOURCE
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