A hotel in the Florida Keys featured by UK operators has re-opened after $50 million was spent repairing damage caused by Hurricane Irma almost a year ago.
The Hawks Cay Resort’s 177 hotel rooms will boost the Keys hotel capacity to 90% operational following last September’s tropical cyclone, Keys tourism officials said.
The island resort is offered by leading UK operators including Virgin Holidays, North America Travel Service and Hayes and Jarvis.
Besides repairs, the property’s owners, Carey Watermark Investors, have also enhanced the property.
Rooms have been renovated, two new restaurants added and an adults-only relaxation area opened.
Hawks Cay managing director Sheldon Suga said: “After Hurricane Irma we didn’t just look at recovering from the storm.
“That would have been the quickest and easiest way to do this, but it was an opportunity for us to re-imagine Hawks Cay. We just took our time to do this right.”
Florida Keys & Key West UK sales director, Emma Cashmore, added: “Hawks Cay is extremely popular with UK operators and their clients, and it’s great to have the resort back and even better than before.
“This is a big moment for the Middle Keys and the destination as a whole.”