The newly renovated Palm Court Hotel with swimming pool in the foreground.
MARIGOT--The Palm Court Hotel joins La Playa as the latest of the boutique hotels to open in Orient Bay following a soft reopening party on August 14. The opening marks a continuing revival of the accommodation sector in Orient Bay, particularly in the increasingly busy village area close to the beach.
The 21-bedroom hotel has been completely renovated at a cost of some 2 million euros and is expecting to receive its first guests this weekend with an official opening celebration.
“The entire property had been completely redone two years before [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma and we had to do it again after Irma,” explained Director Gilles-Guy De Salins. “So, this time we decided to go all out and completely modify it. Part of the pool has been changed and the ground floor suites that had been flooded have been completely redone. The opportunity arose to anticipate many improvements for the future, such as the separation of wastewater, the use of more durable materials and hurricane protection. We had to change our reconstruction thinking in the context of something inconceivable, like Irma.”
The 20 suites and bridal suite now await loyal repeat guests as well as new ones who should fall in love with the new refreshing décor and comforts. The management and the entire Palm Court team are ready to welcome guests, who will be able to fully enjoy this hotel in a superb setting.
In the same vicinity, Alamanda Hotel plans to reopen in 2020, as does Blue Bay Beach Hotel. As for an update on other hotels and accommodations, Balcons d’Oyster Pond (19 rooms) and Bleu Emeraude in Grand Case (11 rooms) are open as are the business-oriented hotels, Centre (39 rooms) in the centre of Marigot and the Golfe Hotel (22 rooms) in Bellevue under new ownership. Fantastic Hotel in Concordia that opened earlier in the year was a new addition to the hotel inventory.
A question mark hangs over the Love Hotel in Grand Case as to whether it will re-open. Le Beach Hotel on the outskirts of Marigot has an ambitious project but is not envisioned to open until 2021. In Baie Nettle, the Mercure Hotel has been renamed Hommage Hotel in appreciation of the many artists who worked on the hotel property. But it’s not clear whether the hotel is still part of the Mercure hotel chain.
Perhaps the most anticipated opening will be the all-inclusive 350-room Secrets St. Martin in Anse Marcel (former Riu Palace) which is on track to open on February 1, 2020, according to Sales Director José Castillo. However, obtaining information on construction progress proves to be difficult.
Elsewhere, the tourism office noted there are some 66 rooms available in guest houses, whereas Airbnb rentals see the biggest growth with some 625 rooms available. About 86 villas are also available throughout the French side.
