By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of the US Virgin Islands’ leading resorts is back.

Marriott has officially reopened its Marriott Frenchman’s Cove villa resort in St Thomas, a huge step in the US Virgin Islands’ recovery in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

The property, which had been closed since Sept. 6, is one of the first large resorts to reopen in St Thomas.

Marriott said guests can enjoy the resort’s pool and hot tub, while the beach has been cleared and is open for use, the pier is fully restored and the restaurant and marketplace are open and operating.

The resort’s activities department is also operating normally, while crews will continue to work on landscaping and other projects, including building painting over the next few weeks.

“The unwavering dedication of our associates has shown through during this challenging time at Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove,” said Scott Derrickson, general manager of Frenchman’s Cove. “I am so proud of the hard work our associates took on and completed to get the resort back open even though they were also affected personally by these storms. We are grateful to be welcoming our first owners and guests back to the resort today.”

St Thomas has been making an admirable recovery since last year’s storms, with many restaurants and shops open and much of the island’s foliage recovering as well.

Marriott Frenchman’s Cove is part of the company’s Marriott Vacation Club vacation ownership program.

The Marriott Frenchman’s Reef resort remains closed for repairs, however.