Local hotel celebrates 25th Reopening Anniversary

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TODAY, September 10, marks 25 years since the reopening of the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino, formerly known as Jack Tar Village, and highlights the success gained during the ensuing years.

On November 13, 1973, the stone for the hotel was laid by the then Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, the Hon. Robert L. Bradshaw J.P., to mark the commencement of hotel development in the Frigate Bay area.

The Royal St. Kitts Hotel was officially open for business in May 1976 and was partly destroyed by fire on February 27, 1983. However, it was sold and the new management had it refurbished and reopened on September 10, 1983, nine days before the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis gained its Independence from the British.
 
According to an excerpt from Caribbean Treasure: Frigate Bay, St. Kitts, a brochure by the Frigate Bay Development Corporation (circa 1976), “The first hotel, the luxurious 100-room Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Golf Club, opened in May, 1976, simultaneously with the inauguration of play on its adjoining 18-hole championship golf course. 

“Inaugural hotel in Frigate Bay and the trend-setter for future development is the Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Golf Club, one of the most luxurious and completely recreation-oriented hostelries in the West Indies.”

Valencia Grant, Marketing and Public Relations Director for the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino, in speaking to SKNVibes, expressed her pleasure and pride to know that the hotel has a long history of success and has witnessed extensive growth.

She gave an insight to the recent and future developments of the establishment.

~~Adz:Left~~ “It is very hard to find someone in St. Kitts who has not worked at this hotel in some capacity. We intend to keep reaching out to the people of St. Kitts-Nevis in many forms. We recently reopened the Cane Club and the Lime Beach Bar and Grill in May of this year and had a large reception. We want to continue growing with the help of the citizens of the country.

“We want to make a mark on the entertainment scene and develop a mutually beneficial relationship with other businesses. There are also intentions of going into time share, touted “Vacation for Life”, which I would disclose more information at a later date.”

The hotel has seen rapid growth and now boasts 282 rooms spreading over 30 two-storey buildings, casino, night club, beach bar, conference centre and some of the finest dining areas on the island.