Club Med Returns to U.S. Shores With St. Croix Resort Partnership

Club Med and VICI Properties Inc. announced the acquisition and planned redevelopment of Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, representing the all-inclusive operator's return to U.S. soil after decades of focusing its North American operations on Caribbean and international destinations.

VICI, an S&P 500 experiential real estate investment trust, acquired the 150-key property and entered into a long-term triple-net lease with Club Med. VICI will fund the resort's redevelopment to Club Med's Exclusive Collection standards, the brand's premium portfolio distinguished by elevated design and personalized service. Club Med will operate the future resort.

The redevelopment represents a strategic expansion for Club Med, which operates nearly 60 resorts globally. Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, stated: "The U.S. Virgin Islands represent an exciting new chapter for Club Med. For more than seven decades, we've welcomed North American travelers to our destinations around the world, and now we're bringing that experience back home." The property, originally built in 1986 by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller, sits between a crescent beach and tropical rainforest.

John Payne, President and COO of VICI, said the partnership aligns with the company's strategy of working with best-in-class experiential operators. "We have tremendous respect for what the Club Med team has built, and we look forward to opportunities to support their continued growth across North America for years to come," Payne said.

The project is expected to generate approximately 200 direct jobs and at least as many indirect opportunities through collaborations with local excursion operators, service providers, and artisans. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. called it "another significant milestone in the continued economic growth and revitalization of our islands." The resort will pursue BREEAM and Green Globe certifications as part of Club Med's Happy to Care sustainability commitments. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026, with a targeted reopening in Q4 2027.

The development signals Club Med's confidence in the North American premium all-inclusive market at a time when luxury travel operators are expanding their domestic footprints.