Renovated Curacao Marriott Resumes Operation
One of Curacao’s most-anticipated resort renovations debuted in November. Yet travelers have effectively waited since 2019 for an opportunity to experience the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort, a six-acre, oceanfront property.
That’s because the 336-room property’s overhaul was completed just weeks ahead of the pandemic’s beginning. While the property was not fully closed over the next three years, it’s only accommodated vacationers since November.
Travelers can now enjoy the property’s multiple dining concepts and international cuisine, plus amenities that include a kid’s club and two large pools.
Located 15 minutes from Hato International Airport and five minutes from Willemstad, Curacao’s capital, the property is also well suited for group gatherings, events and weddings, offering 50,000 square feet of event space capable of hosting up to 800 guests.
TravelPulse spoke this week with Anjali Bakmeijjer, director of sales and marketing, Curacao Marriott Beach Resort, to learn more about the newly renovated property.
TP: How did the pandemic impact the property’s opening?
AB: We were closed for three years for a $40 million renovation, and we re-opened in November 2019, right before the pandemic, unfortunately. Then March [2020] hit and it was tough. Thank goodness we didn’t close the hotel.
TP: How did you handle the intervening period?
AB: We stayed and operated [the property]. Fortunately, we had some good contracted business during that period that helped us through that time. Now ever our reopening since last year, we’ve seen continuous growth.
TP: What sort of room amenities does the resort feature?
AB: All of our rooms have 65-inch, flat-screen televisions and all have balconies. The rooms either have one king-size or two queen-sized beds. And 70 percent of our rooms have some kind of ocean view. Our suites have separate living and dining areas, plus master bedrooms and baths.
TP: What are the public spaces like?
AB: There’s a nice beachfront and a fitness center that’s accessible 24 hours a day with your room, so it’s open all the time. We have a complementary kids’ club where you can leave your kids and go enjoy things for a bit and come back. We also have a lap pool that is adults-only, with an infinity edge pool at the end.
We also have a “Grab and Go” in case people want to pick up something quick to eat, and there is also a walking and jogging trail right by the resort.
TP: What are the resort’s dining options?
AB: We have five restaurants including SeaSpice, which is our fine dining [option]. It’s Mediterranean fusion cuisine at nighttime. Every morning we do buffet and a la carte breakfast there as well. We also have Salty Iguana, which is our pool bar and grill. It’s really popular for sunsets, a prime location.
We also have dining options at that location, plus the Reef Club, an executive lounge anyone can have access to for a small surcharge. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is a breakfast buffet and hors d’oeuvres and a full bar. It’s for people who want to have that more exclusive feel.
TP: What do you think guests will like most about the property?
AB: You know what you’re getting with the Marriott brand. Of course, we would love for guests to stay on property for the seven days they’re here, but we want our guests to experience the island. It has that European charm and it’s authentic. Our island has so much history and culture. There’s a wide variety of cuisine in our downtown district, and they all put their local twist on it.
TP: How has Curacao’s air connectivity impacted the resort thus far?
AB: Since April, we’ve had five JetBlue flights a week which is which is great. We really love to see our guests coming from this area, New York and the tri-state area, the biggest area for the hotel and where our guests come from.
We’re excited to say that as of December we will have daily flights from Charlotte on American Airlines. They had been flying with us once a week on Saturdays. We also have American Airlines flying to Curacao from Miami twice a day.
We have JetBlue five times a week, but we are praying that if the load factors remain good, they will move to daily hopefully as well, maybe early next year.