Jalousie Plantation is about to undergo a restoration program which will take place over a two year period.The resort, which was recently acquired by local hotelier Craig Barnard, is known for its collection of private Caribbean villas overlooking the sea, framed by the Pitons. 

According to Mr. Barnard, “Jalousie is one of the truly iconic resorts of the Caribbean.  It is our goal to be respectful of the rich history and locally inspired design of the hotel, while updating the property to meet the standards of the most discriminating guest.  We feel that Jalousie is part of the shared heritage of St. Lucia and we take our stewardship role seriously”.

The restoration program has been carefully planned in discreet phases so as to be virtually invisible to guests.  “We will be upgrading the villas in clusters.  Due to the size of the resort, we are able to upgrade villas without disturbing our guests.  Our goal is to invest the time and money to do the job properly, while ensuring that our guests enjoy their stay with us as always” adds Barnard.

The multi-million dollar restoration program will include refurbishment of the villas and public areas.  Renowned architect Lane Pettigrew, has been commissioned to create a look that is truly reflective of the area. “We want people to feel they are in the Caribbean, not just a luxury hotel.  Our goal is to provide all of the amenities of the best hotels in the world, while preserving a sense of place” says Lane.

In addition to the villas, the investment program will see the addition of a new Rainforest Spa, to be located in the valley behind the Sugar Mill villas.  The spa, which nestles in amongst the river valley and waterfalls will be one of the worlds most stunning centres of health and well being.

As the resort is located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, all plans for the resort have been created with respect for the environment and local ecosystems in mind. According to Barnard, “We have a responsibility to preserve this site for future generations, while at the same time ensuring its future by raising the standards to meet the needs of today’s travelers.  We have kept both factors in mind during every step of our in our planning process.”

The Jalousie investment and restoration program will be completed by December 2007.

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