Hotel Guanahani & Spa Puts Final Touches on $40 Million Design Refresh

The refresh includes new suites and an enhanced arrival experience to appeal to a discerning leisure clientele. The Saint Barthélemy resort, located on an exclusive 18.5-acre peninsula on the northeast tip of the island, between Marigot Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac Bay, tapped into David Schwarz Architects and Venezuelan designer Luis Pons to heighten the resort's private and residential feel with French and Creole influences.

Luis Pons' contributions to Hotel Guanahani & Spa's re-design are inspired by one singular object: the Panama hat. Though originally from Ecuador, the Panama hat embodies Hotel Guanahani & Spa's art de vivre and ambiance.

"We wanted to have the interiors of the suites reflect the property's lush surroundings, blending the two seamlessly, using functionality, elegance, and lightness," said Pons. "The Panama hat is the perfect example of function and style, and it's the embodiment of hospitality, as tipping your hat is a welcoming gesture."

Hotel Guanahani & Spa, which features 67 colorful luxurious cottages, 36 of which are suites, recently revealed two grand suites, or villas, designed by Luis Pons. The Admiral Suite (starting at €2,750 per night, including breakfast) runs more than 1,100-square feet with décor inspired by the legacy of exploration that brought Christopher Columbus to St. Bart's in 1493. Set at the tip of the peninsula with sweeping views of Grand Cul-de-Sac Bay, the suite comes complete with a wrap-around deck overlooking the lagoon, two bedrooms and over-sized en-suite bathrooms--one with a Jacuzzi tub flanked by a picture-window perspective on the Atlantic Ocean. The Serenity Suite (starting at €2,750 per night, including breakfast) is similarly spacious, with a large common living area and two bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms--the master bathroom featuring a sunken balneo-therapy bathtub. A 540-square foot patio wraps around the main living room seamlessly extending the indoor ambiance to the outdoors, with the interior furnishings' accent colors highlighted in the scenery surrounding the suite. An outdoor shower and private pool featuring panoramic views of the bay enable guests to choose between keeping to the serenity of their quarters and participating in the resort's communal amenities.

Both suites exhibit Luis Pons' custom furniture collection that was created especially for Hotel Guanahani & Spa and was inspired by the luggage chests used by explorers on their journeys through the colonies. Similar pieces can be custom-ordered for guests wishing to re-create Hotel Guanahani's sophisticated "Creole Contemporary" ambiance at home.

This summer, Hotel Guanahani & Spa will roll out three more suites, as well as refresh the reception area to extend David Schwarz Architects and Luis Pons' aesthetic to the arrival experience. The new lobby will be the heart of the resort welcoming guests to a comfortable, relaxed setting featuring a lighter color palette that showcases the open-air architecture.

Hotel Guanahani & Spa invites guests to experience its slice of paradise in the French West Indies and new and improved look while reaping 22 percent savings with the St. Bart's Summer Spree package. The package starts at €490 per night (three night minimum) and encompasses welcome drinks and gift upon arrival; daily continental breakfast in the comfort of your room or a buffet breakfast at Indigo Restaurant; daily lunch or dinner at the resort restaurant of your choice; a car rental and private round-trip airport transfers; and a €50 spa credit to enjoy in the Guanahani Spa by Clarins. The package is valid through the end of August 2014. For reservations or more information, please visit leguanahani.com.