By the Caribbean Journal staff

St. Thomas was devastated by Hurricane Irma, but the island’s tourism infrastructure is beginning to rebuild and recover.

The Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, perhaps the island’s signature hotel, has announced “high expectations” to begin taking guests on Dec. 22.

“Bolongo was so very lucky according to many other properties,” the property said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Right now, Bolongo is housing border patrol, government officials, FEMA and many staff that lost their homes or live where it is not currently habitable in St. Thomas.

“The attitude of the Island is one that compares to none. The people of the Virgin Islands stand together. Not only through the good times but through times of hardship and despair,” the resort said.

Most importantly, the property said, “we need you!”

“Without our tourist coming back to visit and share these beautiful Island with us, there is no us,” it said. “So with positive attitudes and a better than ever future we can’t wait to again share our home with you.”