Basseterre, St. Kitts – The St. Kitts Tourism Authority announced on Friday, May 6, that a multi-million dollar deal was sealed on Tuesday, April 25, 2005 for the construction of the Whispering Head Resort on 1,700 acres of prime private land on St. Kitts’ South East Peninsula.
“The overall project will have between 250 hotel rooms of various types, spa, several restaurants and up to 750 residential units,” St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, announced during a signing ceremony, at the Ocean Terrace Inn, between the Federal Government and Auberge Firesky Limited, a St. Kitts limited liability company.
Prime Minister Douglas said the new tourism development by Auberge Firesky Limited will also boast other hotels, an 18-hole championship golf course and other amenities such as restaurants, taverns, retail buildings, recreational rooms, beach clubhouse and golf clubhouse. The resort will be built on the property that begins at the Great Salt Pond and extends down to Majors Bay, Sandy Bank Bay and Priddie’s Plateau. The small luxury resort will have villas attached to it, a golf course, a world-class spa and a fine dining restaurant.
“This development will provide a huge boost to us in jobs, tax revenues and other economic benefits for St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who said that in the next 20 years, St. Kitts and Nevis should see a contribution of some US$17 billion to the local economy.
During the construction phase of the Whispering Head Resort hotel, the government will get US$3.5 million. The construction cost of the hotel is expected to amount to US$78 million, while the spin-off effects in the economy are estimated to be US$468 million.
“We are very excited about this project, which will not only bring a new level of luxury to St. Kitts but also provide a significant contribution to our economy at a time when we are diversifying it away from sugar agriculture and steering it into hospitality services, especially hotel and cruise tourism,” added Richard “Ricky” O. Skerritt, minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture. “We would also like to reaffirm that we are completely committed to ensuring that the development of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to take place among acceptable guidelines for sustainable growth.”
Chief Executive Officer of Auberge Resorts, Mark Harmon, said that in addition to the aforementioned small luxury resort, “There will be at least one other hotel which will be in the category of the finest five-star properties in the world. In addition to that, there will be residential development that we hope will set the standard for this type of development in the region.”
Mr. Harmon admitted that the goals are “quite ambitious, but we have a track record of focusing on a few select projects and working diligently in really handcrafting those opportunities to become something extraordinarily special.”
Describing St. Kitts as “The Gem of the Caribbean,” Mr. Harmon said the company is committed to making St. Kitts “one of the finest resort destinations and it would be so because of the partnership with the people of St. Kitts.” “We have a handful of properties. We are in many ways a small company, but those properties are recognized around the world as some of the finest in the class of small luxury resorts. The experience that we create in our small properties is one of fine service, exceptional cuisine, original art, a dedication to spas and unparalleled service and last but not least, spectacular locations, and that is precisely what brings us here today, this spectacular location,” said Harmon.
Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history.
