ST. CROIX—Wyndham Hotels and Resorts will enter a new Caribbean market with the development of the luxury 400-room Wyndham St. Croix Golf Resort and Casino, which will become the keystone of a US$250 million complex that includes a new conference center on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The property will be located on the south shore near downtown Christiansted and 15 minutes from Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport.

The 294-acre (119-ha) property, scheduled to open in 2010, will be developed by New Jersey-based Golden Resorts LLLP in joint ownership with Jericho All-Weather Opportunity Fund of Boca Raton, Florida, and managed by Wyndham Hotel Management Co. The resort will feature a casino, a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, a spa and fitness center, four restaurants, lounges, retail stores and a kids club.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority, a public corporation which assists the government in raising capital for essential public projects that promote and sustain economic and social development, awarded Golden Resorts US$32.5 million for the construction, operation and management of the St. Croix Conference Center, which will be part of the resort. The move is designed to stimulate the island’s economy through financial support of investment ventures that increase tourism and employment. The conference center will share the resort’s amenities and services, including entertainment and food and beverage facilities.