Aimbridge Hospitality will replace Marriott International as operator of Frenchman’s Reef Resort on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The property joins the hotel investment and management firm’s portfolio of more than 880 hotels worldwide.
The resort's owner, DiamondRock Hospitality Co., is carrying out a $200 million rebuilding effort with the help of architects Kollin Altomare and Whitespace Interiors. The renovated hotel will feature infinity edge pools, enhanced wind resiliency measures and restaurant concepts by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval. No further specifics on the hotel, including its room count, have been shared.
Aimbridge appointed Kurt Wiksten managing director for Frenchman’s Reef Resort. A hospitality industry veteran, Wiksten previously held roles in food-and-beverage and hotel operations at the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, Minn., and with Crescent Hotels & Resorts in Bloomington, Minn., and Panama City Beach, Fla. Most recently, Wiksten served as VP of hotel operations and transitions for Graduate Hotels.
“With the addition of Aimbridge Hospitality’s expertise and Kurt’s leadership skills, we are well on our way to relaunching one of the most beloved resorts in the Caribbean,” Mark Brugger, president/CEO of DiamondRock, said in a statement.