New Plans for Frenchman’s Reef Resort in St. Thomas

Frenchman’s Reef Resort in St. Thomas will now operate under the Marriott Hotels brand, owner DiamondRock Hospitality Company announced this week. Marriott was previously the resort’s longtime operator, but was replaced by Aimbridge Hospitality earlier this year.

The property will reopen as the Frenchman’s Reef Marriott Resort & Spa, with a new, adjacent resort under Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Noni Beach, a St. Thomas Resort. Neither of the resorts will be all-inclusive.

Formerly Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, DiamondRock is investing more than $200 million into rebuilding the property, after closing in 2017 due to damage from Hurricane Irma. It is scheduled to reopen during the first quarter of 2020.

The enhanced Frenchman’s Reef Marriott Resort & Spa will house 384 guestrooms (including 28 spacious suites), three resort pools including an infinity-edge pool with a swim-up pool bar, a state-of-the-art luxury wellness spa, and 85,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. There will also be new restaurant concepts by critically acclaimed chef and global restaurateur, Richard Sandoval.

The Morning Star portion of the property is being upgraded to Noni Beach Resort, the first Autograph Collection hotel in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is comprised of a series of intimate beach house-style villas containing 94 guestrooms, including two honeymoon suites, all nestled in on the beach. Noni Beach will have a private, beachfront infinity-edge pool with a swim-up bar; a 3,000-square-foot beachfront ballroom; and multiple dining experiences, including the Caribbean-casual Coco’s Beach Club, as well as a restaurant with an elevated 180-degree panorama of the Caribbean Sea.