Feb. 27, 2008 — Wyndham Hotels and Resorts will manage the long-delayed Golden Gaming casino resort project on St. Croix's South Shore, developer Paul Golden announced Wednesday morning at The Palms at Pelican Cove.
Wyndham Resorts made its own announcement, broadcast on CNN at 8 a.m. Wednesday. "Golden Gaming" no more: Henceforth the project will be known as Wyndham St. Croix Golf Resort and Casino.
"After seven and a half years, Golden Resorts couldn't be more pleased and honored to have Wyndham managing the property," Golden said. "Wyndham's past experience with their 24 properties in the Caribbean and Latin America gives us the benefit of their sales, marketing and reservations system, their triple-rewards program for their members, and their network of Wyndham vacation-ownership condos. And they are well-known, experienced managers of hotels and resorts."
Wyndham has been on board since 2005, Golden said, but it waited until the development was closer to breaking ground before putting its name on the project. Wyndham has more than 6,000 franchises totaling more than 500,000 rooms in more than 45 countries, he said.
Although some legal issues remain, Golden said he anticipates a groundbreaking in March and a completed casino sometime in 2010. The Golden Gaming project has met considerable opposition and permit difficulty from its inception. Golden Gaming waited for all of 2004 for action on its request for a Coastal Zone Management permit. In January 2005, the Board of Land Use Appeals (BLUA) granted the permit by default because of the CZM's failure to act.
Golden has also faced fierce opposition from environmentalists, who are concerned about its ecologically sensitive location near St. Croix's Great Pond. VICS filed suit in V.I. Superior Court in February 2005, seeking to block the permit. VICS attorney Andrew Simpson argued, among other things, the BLUA did not have jurisdiction to make the decision and the environmental assessment done by Golden was insufficient.
When the suit came before the court, Judge Maria Cabret ruled in favor of Golden Gaming. VICS filed a writ of review in Superior Court in 2005. It asked the court to review BLUA's decision to grant Golden a coastal zone permit. However, in May 2006, Cabret upheld the issuance of the permit. Simpson and VICS appealed Cabret's decision. The appeal was heard in October, and the appellate panel issued its decision Dec. 6.
The court ruled that under V.I. Law, it is the duty of the CZM board to make factual conclusions about the environmental assessment and other issues, but BLUA acted appropriately and the permit it issued and the Superior Court upheld were proper.
VICS and other conservation organizations on St. Croix remain vigorously opposed to the development.
The resort is to have 400 luxury rooms, which will become the keystone of a $250 million complex that includes a new 43,000-square foot conference center on St. Croix.
The 294-acre property will be developed by Golden in joint ownership with Jericho All-Weather Opportunity Fund of Boca Raton, Fla., and managed by Wyndham Hotel Management Company.
Amenities are to feature a 25,000 square-foot casino; 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course; 17,000 square-foot world-class spa and fitness center; four restaurants; lounges; retail stores; and kids' club. The property will be located on the south shore of St. Croix, near downtown Christiansted and 15 minutes from Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport.
Peter Strebel, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts president, said the introduction of the Wyndham brand in St. Croix will build upon its 24-resort portfolio in the Caribbean and Mexico, which includes properties in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya.
"This world-class resort will enhance the Wyndham brand's strong position in the Caribbean, promote tourism and introduce thousands of travelers to this wonderful island, with its rich culture, friendly people, pristine beaches and exciting recreational activities," Strebel said in Wyndham's press announcement.
The audience at Golden's announcement was heavily peppered with senators, former senators and commissioners. After the announcement, Golden fielded questions, many of which concerned the jobs the development may produce.
"How many people do you expect to employ for the construction?" Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson asked.
"At the peak there will be about 1,000," Golden said. "Once the foundation is poured, there will be a lot of work in a short time — masonry, electrical, plumbing, all at the same time."
St. Croix electrician St. Elmo Greenidge asked whether there were provisions in place to hire "local contractors who cannot come up with bonding on their own."
"It is not about bringing people in from off island," Golden said. "There will be lots of opportunities. We will use as many local contractors as there are willing to work. I believe the governor is looking into helping to arrange bonding."
Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan asked what proportion of the jobs would be local. Golden said 80 percent or more.
"It is our intention to hire every local who wants to work on the project," Golden said. "With 1,200 jobs, we are not going to be able to fill all of them locally. But I can guarantee you there will be jobs for every local who wants to work."
Paul Chakroff of the St. Croix Environmental Association asked about the possible impact on the project of ongoing litigation. Golden said he believed nothing currently being litigated should slow the project down at this point.
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