As a seasoned traveler to the Caribbean, I was
thrilled to finally have the opportunity to visit the British Virgin Islands.
For a few sun-drenched days, I immersed myself in the secluded luxury of Peter Island Resort, a private island resort.
As I looked out from my beachfront table, a cup of coffee in hand, it was hard
for me to believe the property, just seven years earlier, had been leveled by
Hurricane Irma. On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in the
British Virgin Islands, causing widespread destruction, demolishing buildings,
and damaging roads.
Peter Island Resort was one of many resorts caught in
the crossfire. After Hurricane Irma, the property underwent a top-to-bottom
renovation and reopened in December 2024. During my recent visit, I enjoyed the
new amenities like the 10,000 sq ft spa and Drake’s Steakhouse, an elevated restaurant
adjacent to the new infinity pool and sundeck overlooking Deadman's Beach.
During the renovation, the owners also prioritized Hurricane readiness by using
materials to maximize protection against hurricane weather. Sustainable features,
such as wind turbines, were also incorporated to provide power during an
outage.
“Peter Island was the first in the BVI to install
wind turbines for power, and it was a priority to restore them after the
hurricanes as part of the new Peter Island Resort,” says Ed Linsley, Peter
Island Resort’s General Manager. “The turbines can provide up to 75% of the
island’s power supply. Also restored is the island’s water treatment plant that
up-cycles the island’s water supply. New with the resort’s reimagining is a
water bottling plant, and all beachfront accommodations were built with EnviroShake
Roofing made from 95% sustainable materials.”
The seven-year project faced delays due to the
pandemic, and because all of the British Virgin Islands were virtually
rebuilding, Linsley says there were “limited materials and labor resources.” As
a workaround, the beachfront units were assembled in Europe before being
shipped to Peter Island. The result of the massive project is a stunning
private island oasis featuring 20 new beachfront units and state-of-the-art
meeting facilities, including a 3,000 sq ft conference center. The completely
reimagined marina offers sports courts, a swimming pool, and an updated casual
waterfront restaurant, the Drunken Pelican.
Another hard-hit area was the Grenadines, which were
impacted by Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024. The tiny island of Canouan is
approximately 25 miles south of St. Vincent, and Michael Shin, the hotel
manager of Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, reports that the
resort sustained minimal damage to some of its suites, villas, and public
areas. He also says that
sourcing materials and logistics were a major challenge due to the island’s
remote location, and rebuilding efforts led hotel leaders to adopt
regenerative practices.
Caribe Hilton exterior. (Photo Credit: Caribe Hilton Media)
“Following Hurricane Beryl, we included a new fanlike
design of the Tortoise Garden & Sanctuary, which was created using
reclaimed wooden shingles salvaged from the original roof of our former ocean
spa cottages that were lost during the storm,” Shin says.
Another casualty of hurricanes is the disruption of
local lives. Shin says that after Hurricane Beryl, Mandarin Oriental pledged to
set aside 10% of the revenue from every guest's stay to the Canouan Resilience
Fund, which is “dedicated to further strengthening the island’s infrastructure,
enhancing resilience against future natural disasters, and providing local
schools and the community with critical resources to support long-term
success.”
After reopening following a hurricane, hotel
leadership also faces the crucial task of reassuring travelers that the area is
open for business and that all necessary precautions have been taken to protect
against future storms.
“Restoring the trust of travelers to return to the
island was another important priority,” Shin says. “The positive outcome is
that our resilience as a team and community shone through; we partnered with
global agencies, local authorities, and businesses to rebuild not just the
resort, but the broader destination, reinforcing the island’s infrastructure
against future storms.”
Another island rocked by a major hurricane was Puerto
Rico. In 2017, Hurricane Maria caused island-wide structural damage, and many
buildings had to be completely reconstructed. At the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, General Manager
Mike Garcia says that the resort’s guestrooms and public spaces were severely
impacted, and a few facilities had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
The newly built Drake Steakhouse and Pool. (Photo Credit: Peter Island Resort Media)
“We completely refreshed all 652 guestrooms and
public spaces, rebuilt the fitness and spa building, and upgraded building
systems and exteriors throughout the property,” Garcia says. “Every detail had
to be about resilience, while honoring the art deco and historic retro feel of
the property. We focused on upgrading the structural integrity of the whole
resort, with special attention to the windows in our guest rooms. We also
worked closely with local manufacturers to enhance the design and ensure the windows
met or exceeded hurricane codes, so our guests can have peace of mind, no
matter what.”
With the threat of increased hurricane activity due
to climate change, “hurricane proofing” is more than just bringing peace of
mind for travelers; it gives hotel owners a chance to reflect on the best way
forward to “build back better.”
“Protecting our guests and staff is paramount, so we
strengthened the resort with hurricane-resistant features everywhere - from
impact-resistant windows in every guest room to upgraded building systems and
exteriors,” Garcia says. “The Caribe Hilton’s restoration wasn’t just about
fixing what was broken, it’s about making sure this iconic hotel continues to
be a place where guests from all over the world come to experience the heart
and soul of Puerto Rico.”
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