Caribbean hotel closures, a perception problem for open villas

The Caribbean's upscale villa-rental industry took an outsized hit from the one-two punch of hurricanes Irma and Maria last September.

Many of the islands that were heavily damaged were places with strong villa-rental cultures, such as St. Barts and Anguilla. As those islands recover, the villa industry faces the additional challenges of public perception about their condition following the storms and the subsequent decline in airlift. Both are being driven, at least in part, by the closing of so many large hotels.

Because each villa is distinctly located and uniquely built, the disparity in damage spans a wide spectrum. On several islands, the state of the hotel industry does not mirror that of the villa housing stock. The rental homes that are repaired or were never damaged in the first place are working to get the word out that they are open for business.

"We have to fight the perception that the hurricanes created a swath of destruction across the Caribbean," said Steven Lassman, vice president of Villas of Distinction. "We're trying very hard to push the word out that these islands are ready and able, and your vacation will be fantastic."

The problem is acute on St. Barts, where the largest hotels are not slated to open until later this year: Le Guanahani, the island's biggest resort with 67 rooms, and Eden Rock, St. Barths say they will open this summer (Eden Roc's 80-property Villa Rental is open for business). The Hotel Christopher St. Barth will reopen in February, Villa Marie Saint-Barth in March, Le Manapany in April and Hotel Le Toiny in October.

Le Sereno and Isle de France have not set reopening dates.

However, villa rental companies like Villas of Distinction, St. Barth Properties and Wimco all report that 50% of their villa inventory is available, with more properties slated to reopen this month.

On Anguilla, the Four Seasons Resort & Residences is set to open on March 23, the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa this summer and the Belmond Cap Juluca in November. Reopening dates have not been announced for Altamer, Anacaona Boutique Hotel, Arawak Beach Inn or Anguilla Great House Beach Resort.

Meanwhile, Villas of Distinction said 63% of its Anguilla villas, or 40 of 64 units, are open, and the tourist board said the island has more than 600 guestrooms available in villas, small hotels and apartment rentals.