On Wednesday, Club Med and VICI Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust, broke ground on Club Med St. Croix, officially launching the development and brand’s return to U.S. territory, while kicking off a new chapter for the all-inclusive industry.
Hosted by Stéphane Maquaire, President and CEO of Club Med, and Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, the groundbreaking ceremony marked the moment Club Med St. Croix moved from vision into action, on the same stretch of beach where the resort will welcome its first guests in 2027.
They were joined by leaders of the U.S. Virgin Islands government and members of the territory’s 36th Legislature to mark a milestone decades in the making: Club Med’s return to American soil, its only resort in the country, and the newest chapter for a company that has welcomed North American travelers to the world’s most sought-after coastlines for more than seventy-five years.
They were joined by leaders of the U.S. Virgin Islands government and members of the territory’s 36th Legislature to mark a milestone decades in the making: Club Med’s return to American soil, its only resort in the country, and the newest chapter for a company that has welcomed North American travelers to the world’s most sought-after coastlines for more than seventy-five years.
The morning opened with a distinctly Crucian welcome with the U.S. and the Virgin Islands anthem played on steel pan drums before Club Med and VICI leaders joined local officials to officially break ground. Remarks were delivered by Senate President Milton Potter and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, who spoke on behalf of Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and on what the project means for St. Croix and the wider territory: renewed investment, new opportunity for residents, and a global brand choosing to invest in the island.
“St. Croix is a destination we’ve long admired, and one that has welcomed us with open arms,” said Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean. “Its beauty, culture and spirit are unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean, and we wanted to bring that to travelers through the kind of all-inclusive experience that only Club Med can create — one that is designed around genuine joy and connection, effortless ease, and a real sense of place.”
Ed Pitoniak, CEO of VICI, said, “We are incredibly proud and excited to partner with Club Med to bring this vision to life in St. Croix, a destination people will always want to experience. Partnering to bring Carambola Beach Resort into its next chapter marks our first project in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a partnership we look forward to growing well beyond it.”
Economic Impact and Sustainability
Club Med St. Croix will serve as a catalyst for growth within the local economy and throughout the territory. The completed resort project is anticipated to create approximately 200 jobs, with an estimated 80% expected to be filled by local talent, supplemented by an equal number of indirect roles through collaborations with tour operators, suppliers, and regional agricultural producers and craftsmen. Ongoing dialogues with island leadership have focused on mutual objectives of prioritizing resident hiring initiatives, specialized vocational training, and entrepreneurial support.
Sustainability is built into the project from the start. In line with Club Med’s Happy to Care commitments, the redevelopment will target BREEAM and Green Globe certifications, recognized benchmarks for environmental design and operational responsibility.
“Today, we not only celebrate the groundbreaking of a new property, but also what this project means for the people of the Virgin Islands,” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr. “The addition of Club Med to the territory’s tourism portfolio brings jobs, creates opportunity, and further reinforces our islands as one of the world’s premier destinations. We are proud to welcome Club Med and VICI and look forward to building a prosperous future together.”
A New Chapter For A Caribbean Landmark
A premier addition to Club Med’s prestigious Exclusive Collection and only the second in North America, the 150-key sanctuary is nestled between a pristine white-sand crescent and the verdant tropical canopy of St. Croix’s northwest coast. As the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this destination offers a rare, passport-free Caribbean retreat for American travelers, characterized by sophisticated design, bespoke service, and curated experiences that draw inspiration from its unique geographical heritage.
The reimagining of the island’s beloved Carambola Beach Resort carries the property’s legacy forward. Originally designed in the 1980s under Laurence Rockefeller’s conservation philosophy with hardwood, native stone, and steep shingled roofs built to blend into the Davis Bay landscape, the property’s design will be elevated while preserving the spirit that has always defined it.
The first offering of its kind in the destination, Club Med will bring premium, family-friendly all-inclusive travel to St. Croix, designed for guests 12 years and older and centered on an active lifestyle and the rhythm of Caribbean life.
With construction now underway, Club Med St. Croix will be the beginning of a new era that will redefine what all-inclusive travel is meant for. Club Med St. Croix is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2027.
