The Ayre Group confirms that it will be undertaking plans to develop an international luxury resort to be managed by an established, international operator. As plans are ongoing and, due to confidentiality agreements, we are not in a position to disclose details at this time. A formal announcement can be expected in due course, to which all stakeholders, including the press, will be invited.
NEWSCO: Ambassador Calvin Ayre has been tipped as the investor who will purchase a portion of the Jolly Beach Resort to transform it into a US$250 million Nikki Beach and residences property.
This week’s Cabinet notes revealed that plans are in the works to sell a portion of the hotel but did not name the prospective buyer.
But, during Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst made the revelation.
“The other section is likely to be Nikki Beach. It’s a very high cost hotel, much like a Blue Waters. I think we have already made an arrangement with Calvin Ayre,” Hurst said.
Last week during the budget speech, Prime Minister Gaston Browne had announced that Ayre would be constructing a Nikki Beach property sometime this year but there were no further details on where it would be located.
According to PM Browne, the property will feature 90 rooms, 70 branded residences, 10 villas, two restaurants, a beach club, spa and gym.
Billed as the world’s first and original luxury beach club, the Nikki Beach brand is known for its signature entertainment and music, and chic styling. It currently has beach clubs in 11 locations including its flagship Miami Beach spot.
This new investment will follow Ayre’s construction of a US$40 million conference retreat centre on the southern side of Antigua, which has already started.
Ayre’s involvement in Jolly Beach, according to Hurst, will not interfere in the agreement between government and Elite Islands Resort.
Elite is reportedly ploughing US$6 million into refurbishing and reopening the Jolly Beach Hotel.
In exchange, the company headed by Rob Barrett will manage and market the resort for up to five years, and share the profits with the government.
Elite Island Resorts is expected to refurbish “about 386 rooms” of the former 464-room property that spans 30 acres of land.
“Subtract 78 of them from the 464 and that’s about how many the Elite group will develop. [Calvin Ayre] won’t build 78 rooms but the way this wing is arranged it has 78 rooms,” Hurst explained.
Work to refurbish the once-bustling resort property commenced last year, after the Covid pandemic forced the hotel to close in 2020.
It is said to still be in need of significant upgrades, despite the US$2.2 million already spent to refurbish it. So far more than 160 rooms have been brought back into operation, according to this week’s post-Cabinet report.
Two business managers employed by the hotel – which currently has 132 employees – met with the Cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the work required to ramp up the restoration.
They reported that a number of upgrades must take place, including the addition of a 250,000-gallon water-storage tank, and a reverse osmosis plant that produces 65,000 gallons per day.
An upgrade is also said to be needed to the electrical system, along with the installation of new air conditioning systems and perimeter fencing.
While the report didn’t reveal an estimated cost for the remainder of the work, the aforementioned business managers announced that many plumbers, carpenters, electricians and other tradesmen are set to be recruited.
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Eminent Domain is desperately needed to address the lack of proper parking, public restrooms and picnicking shelters to serve OUR NATIONAL PARK – THE BEACH.
The Public will have to change their mindset regarding trash, vandalism, theft. Stiff penalties and fines are all part of polices which must now govern our National Park – The Beach.
Oh please! Give this idiot credit for consistency. Consistently announcing projects. Oh nothing really ever happens, but it makes this fool no never mind. How many are we up to now? What 40?
Remember his anouncment that Adam Stuart have to come on his Rumshop radio to speak to some Sandals expansion? Never happened. In fact Adam called him “badminded.” LOL.
Pretty sure there’s a USD $40 Million dollar building already built beside Epi
Lol so true.
One pound of flesh…..
When desparate educated politicians accept Trinkets from unscrupulous sharks they are left holding a bag of Trinkets while the sharks devour our patronage.
We need to make a shift away from educated people and embrace intelligent people.
Look where educated people got us Vs where we got with intelligent people. Sir Lester was educated but not intelligent. Sir Vere was intelligent but not educated.
Our land is our wealth when we part with our wealth our future generations will be slaves once again.
Why can’t Antigua attract industry other than tourism? When our children graduate from high school and university, are they going to work as maids, cooks and bartenders? No, I tell you what is happening, our bright young people go abroad and never return and non nationals are brought in to fill these jobs as educated Antiguans don’t want them. While the management jobs in these hotels are occupied by expatriates. So why build more hotels on our beautiful beaches? Tell those so-called investors and the government we want industry and not just having them buying up all our prime lands.
Hi Mr Ayre. How about linking with the Mary John Transformation of Lives Incorporated to discuss two facilities, one for boys and one for girls who are either abandoned, abused or whose parent(s) are not in a position to care for their children. I need accommodation for quite a few children at this time. Sunshine Home cannot accommodate every girl. And there is no facility for boys.
Just today I met with a 12 year old boy who is literally homeless and who is living in an unfinished house and sleeping on plywood.
Jamilla Kirwan can you please pitch this to Ambassador Ayre? And no to government involvement. Strictly privately opetated. Please.
I still don’t get, why the Nation has a Tourism Department, a National Parks Department and Society, a National Housing Department, a Public Works Department and cannot come up with concepts, designs to incorporate our local resources from neem to limestones and come up with one of the best themed Parks, on one of the best beaches in Antigua!
Its time for the Tourism Department and National Parks to take these upgraded facilities, to the #Next_Level Management.
Vere C. Edwards
THE PIRATES ARE COMING,THEY COMING AGAIN.WHY DO OUR LEADERS IN GOVERNANCE PRETEND TO DISLIKE WHITE PEOPLE BUT “LOVE” THEIR MONIES.
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