CASTRIES — Saint Lucia is adding more than 1,000 rooms to its hotel and resort inventory in the next few years.

“This hotel boom adds much-needed inventory to meet the demands of our key source markets,” says Minister for Tourism Dominic Fedee. “Tourism growth remains a priority in 2017 as well as developing new island experiences and events for travellers. We are optimistic that this will be a year of tourism expansion.”

Slated to open in February 2017, the 352-room Royalton Saint Lucia is located on a private cove in Cap Estate. The family-friendly resort has splash pads and waterslides, supervised kids’ and teens’ clubs featuring daily activities and dining menus designed for children. The adults-only 104-room Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia boasts private infinity pools and an exclusive seafood grill. Other highlights include the Sky Wedding Terrace with views of Pigeon Island where guests can feast on local cuisine at Calypso, in addition to eight other signature Royalton restaurants and two all-inclusive food trucks.

Serenity at Coconut Bay, Saint Lucia’s new adults-only, luxury all-suite resort, will welcome guests in spring 2017. The all-inclusive vacation experience will feature a private enclave of 36 spacious suites, each with plunge pools, and attentive butlers providing the highest level of service and discretion.

Scheduled to open in September 2017, The Harbor Club on the Rodney Bay Marina will feature 115 four-star accommodations with a choice of suites and a number of amenities that include two restaurants, a bakery, lounges, a full-service spa, gym, pool recreational concept, and 4,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.

Meanwhile Sandals recently announced plans for the brand’s fourth property on Saint Lucia, Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia. Set to break ground in spring 2017, the new hotel – nestled on 19 acres of land next to the existing Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Resort – will offer guests an infinity-edge sky pool bar with picturesque views of the island’s north coast, 350 rooms and suites inclusive of the exotic SkyPool Butler Suites and all-butler signature swim-up Rondoval Suites, a first in the chain.

Also breaking ground soon, The Pearl of the Caribbean will occupy a 700-acre site on the south end of the island at Beausejour, Vieux Fort. Plans include a casino, horse racetrack, resort and shopping mall complex, free trade zone, waterfront villas, boathouses, a marina, an eco-tourism zone, entertainment and leisure venues, and housing. The projected $2.6 billion dollar new-build is slated to commence its initial phase in 2017. Phase one will feature 200 hotel rooms and a spa, with up to 500 possible villas as later phases of construction continue.

Island hotels adding rooms to inventory include Fond Doux, Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, and Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort & Spa.

In January 2017 the first of five new cottages at Fond Doux will be completed in the current colonial style of the one-bedroom cottages on the property. Another four cottages will be constructed by the end of 2017, with private plunge pools with designs focused on providing an authentic, Saint Lucian experience.

In October 2016 Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort & Spa opened 12 newly built suites. The beachfront and garden view honeymoon butler suites feature spacious decks with private plunge pool and access to a personal butler and 24-hour room service.

And at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, seven brand new luxury villas opened at the end of October and an additional three luxury cottages were finished in December.

For more information see stlucia.org.