By the Caribbean Journal staff

Anguilla’s Frangipani Beach Resort is reopening next month in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

The resort will welcome back guests with existing reservations beginning Dec. 21, and will start taking new reservations beginning in January.

“With the upcoming Festive Season, we wanted to provide our loyal guests with the opportunity to return to Anguilla to celebrate and create special memories with their families,” said Shannon Kircher, Director of Marketing & Communications at the resort.  “For many it’s part of an annual tradition and it’s important for us to keep that alive. We also believe that it’s vital for our staff and for the community to keep visitors coming back to our paradise.”

It’s a boost for an island hit hard by Hurricane Irma and whose hotel stock was significantly damaged in the storm.

Most properties on the island will not be opening until next year.

Frangipani is itself undergoing property improvements including all new roofing to the hotel, new windows and doors designed to increase ocean views, new furniture in rooms where damage was sustained, select new electronics, new awnings at the resort and Straw Hat Restaurant, fresh exterior and interior painting, and refinishing of pools, according to a statement from the property.