Marriott is planning a big comeback in St Thomas, with plans to reopen its signature Frenchman’s Reef resort and open a new resort under the Autograph Collection brand. 

The combined $200 million project will see both properties open in 2020, according to a statement from the company. 

The new Autograph resort will be called Noni Beach, a St Thomas Resort.

The resort complex includes design by Kollin Altomare and Whitespace Interiors, with eateries by Chef Richard Sandoval. 

“DiamondRock is creating two truly unique resorts in the Virgin Islands. The irreplaceable location and superlative quality of DiamondRock’s resort property in concert with Marriott’s world-class brands will create an unparalleled and authentic island guest experience. Moreover, we take pride in bringing well over 400 new jobs back to the St. Thomas community,” said Mark Brugger, President & CEO, DiamondRock Hospitality Company, which owns the resorts. 

The Frenchman’s Reef resort will include 384 rooms and 85,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. 

The new Noni Beach, which will be the first-ever Autograph Collection resort in the US Virgin Islands, will include a series of villas with 94 rooms, along with a private beachfront infinity pool, a large ballroom and an elevated eatery with 180-degree views of the water. 

“This signing underscores our commitment to St. Thomas and to bringing back tourism, meetings and events,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America. “We believe that DiamondRock Hospitality has a winning vision for this iconic property – with both the Marriott Hotels brand and the introduction of the Autograph Collection brand.”

The news comes as Marriott will soon reopen another important St Thomas resort, the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas, which has been shuttered since Hurricane Irma in 2017. 

The Ritz-Carlton will reopen next month.

For more, visit Marriott.