The all-inclusive pioneer is returning to American soil with a major redevelopment of the historic Carambola Beach Resort. The resort is the first U.S. site in many years.
One of the most popular beachfront hotels. US Virgin Islands I’m about to start a whole new chapter. Club Medthe company that effectively invented the all-inclusive resort, is taking over the legendary resort. Carambola Beach Resort to st croix.
The brand announced the acquisition and planned a redevelopment. VICI properties, S&P 500 Through an experiential real estate investment trust Club Med’s return to the U.S. market. It is a homecoming that has been decades in the making.
more seventy yearsClub Med welcomes North American guests to a resort in one of the most coveted locations in the world. new Club Med St. Croix It will be a re-entry onto American soil and a statement of intent for one of the most underrated islands in the Caribbean.
The numbers behind the company make the moment even more important. Club Med is in operation. About 60 resorts It remains a recognized leader in the premium all-inclusive category it pioneered globally.
The structure of the deal itself is noteworthy. attache VICI Acquisition A real estate trust for Carambola Beach Resort has been entered into. Long-term triple net lease Together with Club Med, we will fund the redevelopment of the building.
Club Med takes charge of operations in turn. 150 Key ResortThis translates into what the company describes as a local, sustainable, culturally rich and inclusive hospitality model. The property is set up for subscription. Club Med Exclusive CollectionIt is the brand’s most sophisticated portfolio of premium resorts.
The collection is defined by exceptional design, deeply personalized service and exceptional experiences in unique environments. And the setting on St. Croix couldn’t be more special.
The resort is located between the following buildings: crescent moon beach And it’s tropical rainforest Located on the island’s lush northwest coast, it has one of the most cinematic stretches of coastline in all of Australia. virgin islands. This is a place that has been loved by fans for generations.
The history here is deep. Carambola was originally built as: 1986 by Lawrence Rockefelleris a philanthropist and conservation pioneer whose vision is part of some of the Caribbean’s most beloved heritage sites.
Rockefeller’s imprint remains throughout everything from the legendary resort to some of the region’s longest-running hotels. British Virgin Islands Towards a protected landscape saint john. Carambola reflected his continued belief that hospitality and conservation can be balanced.
Club Med said the redevelopment would honor that very heritage. The plan envisions a comprehensive renovation that will preserve the building’s natural beauty and historic roots, while also bringing it up to the standards of the Exclusive Collection.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands represent a new chapter for Club Med.” Caroline DoyonPresident and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean. She pointed to St. Croix’s natural beauty, community spirit and cultural roots as central to the project’s vision.
For VICI, this partnership marks the beginning of what both companies hope will be a long-term relationship. John PayneVICI President and COO called Club Med a true pioneer in premium all-inclusive experiences and said Carambola was an ideal asset to kick-start the relationship.
To understand why movement is important, it helps to understand: st croix itself. The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this is a place that has long flown under the radar of the broader Caribbean travel conversation.
That’s always been part of its charm. While its sister islands rely on cruise traffic and tourism volume, St. Croix has clung to something more rare: an authentic sense of place forged through centuries of cultural, agricultural, and Danish colonial history.
The island is a bit stretched out. 28 miles From end to end, it is surrounded by two historic cities that feel worlds apart. sit on the east side ChristianstedIt’s home to pastel arcades, waterfront promenades and golden-walled National Historic Sites. Kristianbahn Fortress.
at the western end FrederickstedIt’s a quieter, more artsy port city famous for its sunsets and colorful streets. In between, landscapes range from dry coastal scrub to authentic. rainforestIt is intertwined with mahogany trees and winding scenic roads.
St. Croix also has: Point UdalIt is the easternmost point in the United States, the first thing the sun hits the country each morning. And it’s just overseas lies Buck Island Reef National MonumentIt’s one of the best snorkeling spots in the entire Caribbean.
Then there is rum. St. Croix is a rum island to its core and is the historic birthplace of rum. they cross the rum Distillery and grand scale captain morgan This facility has a sugar and distilling heritage that spans centuries.
This means Club Med isn’t just planting a flag on a beautiful beach. You are entering a destination with one of the richest cultural and historical tapestries in the region.
We’re also entering a hotel landscape with real character, based on a small but mighty collection of independent properties cherished by locals and returning guests, including some of our favorite hotels.
one is the fredCentrally located boutique hotel Fredericksted It became a cult favorite. With its vibrant colors, artistic design and laid-back beach vibe, it captures the rustic creativity that flows through the western tip of the island.
The Fred is a secret place even though it is fully booked. It’s beloved because it’s set over calm Caribbean waters, where the island’s famous sunsets unfold every night, and can’t exist anywhere else.
Another thing is pirateSt. The grand dame of St. Croix hotels and one of the most notable hotels in the Caribbean. Family-owned and operated by the family for multiple generations, the resort is approaching a milestone no other hotel in the region has been able to achieve.
next year, pirate will celebrate it 80th anniversaryIt has been in continuous operation for 80 years under the same family. Spread across hundreds of acres on the eastern end of the island and featuring three beaches, historic mansions and a waterfront golf course, it remains a benchmark for old-fashioned Caribbean hospitality.
Establishments like The Fred and The Buccaneer have been in St. Louis for many years. Croix’s reputation has lived up to its reputation, proof that this island has always punched above its weight. The arrival of a globally recognized brand like Club Med adds a powerful new dimension to that story.
The economic stakes are significant. Once the redevelopment is complete, it is expected to generate approx. 200 direct jobsWith at least a lot of indirect opportunities across the island.
The resort is expected to have a ripple effect far beyond its own doors by fostering partnerships with tour operators, service providers, local farmers and artisans. The connection between tourism and the wider community is central to the project’s stated mission.
Discussions with senior government officials focused on shared ambitions on local employment, education and training, business development and responsible tourism. Club Med said it plans to continue engaging with the community over the coming months to share more details.
Sustainability is also built into the plan. According to the characteristics of the brand willing to care promise, the project will target brigham and green globe Certifications are two of the most respected benchmarks for environmental design and operational responsibility in the hospitality sector.
These goals are precisely in line with the conservation ethos. Lawrence Rockefeller It was moved to the property almost 40 years ago. In that sense, Club Med’s vision is continuation rather than reinvention.
Governor Albert Brian Jr. The launch of the Club Med brand was called another important milestone in the continued economic growth and revitalization of the island, especially St. Croix.
He said he looked forward to the government expanding partnerships, with tourism as a key driver of opportunity and investment in the region. The message was clear. St. Croix is open, ambitious and ready for what’s next.
This project is at its most important moment. Club Med St. Croix It is designed to attract guests from the U.S., Canada and around the world who want a high-quality, all-inclusive experience in a single-island setting as the company seeks to reposition itself in the U.S. market.
It’s a rare development that feels both futuristic and deep-rooted at the same time. A historic Rockefeller building reborn for a new era on an island that always knows exactly who it is.
And that places St. Croix at the center of one of the most intriguing stories in Caribbean travel at the moment. Long cherished by those in the know, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands is finally getting the world’s attention. Beaches, rainforests and rum-soaked history always deserve it.
Carambola’s transformation will take time, and Club Med has been careful to express patience and partnership rather than speed. But the destination it was betting on was here, waiting just beyond the cruise crowds and postcards.
Crescents of sand, walls of green rainforest, and the warm Caribbean Sea stretching out to the horizon. The future of all-inclusive travel on St. Croix is being built on very old foundations, and this is key.
This will be Club Med’s first U.S. resort in decades and its only resort in the country. Club Med’s last U.S. asset is Club Med Sandpiper Bay It was the only American resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida, until it was sold and the brand left American soil.
So what is the timeline? I think it will be around next year or two. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2026, and following the hotel’s opening schedule, the hotel is targeting a reopening in the fourth quarter of 2027 (which typically means the first or second quarter of 2028).
