The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE One&Only Ocean Club has closed temporarily to “repair damage” caused by Hurricane Matthew and to begin an extensive clean up process.

Viktoria Riley, director of sales and marketing, told The Tribune that the luxury hotel sustained some damage during the category 4 hurricane and will need some time to repair the property as well as remove all the debris. The hotel is expected to re-open at the beginning of December.

“We are currently closed and will begin the clean up process and we have to repair the damage to the roof,” Ms Riley said. “We have to fly the material in and that will take some time but when we reopen, we will be back and better than before. It’s landscaping issues as well. I have not personally seen it, but I know it will take some time.”

Ms Riley could not say what will happen to the approximately 350 employees of the Paradise Island resort but confirmed that they and the unions were informed of the temporary closure.

The Ocean Club is understood to have lost a number of roof shingles from the Crescent Wing and the Villas during the storm and that the Dune restaurant sustained damage.

Last year, the One&Only Ocean Club closed it doors for renovations at the end of August and re-opened at the beginning of November.

At the time, resort management told The Tribune that the hotel’s owners, Access Industries, had been planning “a significant renovation” with the $15m redevelopment of the Hartford Wing to include expanded and restyled rooms.

Those plans also included a $3m pool on the beachfront between the Dune restaurant and the wooden terrace, a $1m facelift and increased expenditure on entertainment at the Dune and upgraded WiFi across the property. The Courtyard Terrace restaurant closed, which signalled the start of the improvements. Access Industries had pledged a $50m expansion of the Ocean Club.