Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that two major global hospitality players, including France-based Club Med, have formally expressed interest in purchasing Jolly Beach Resort, one of the Caribbean nation’s most high-value tourism assets, as the government navigates decisions over the property’s long-term future.
In remarks delivered during his weekly public radio program on Saturday, Browne shared new details about ongoing discussions with prospective investors, noting the beachfront resort has rebounded strongly to turn consistent profits since the government took it over amid crippling financial distress years earlier.
“Club Med has made clear it wants to acquire the property,” Browne stated, adding that European travel giant TUI is also lined up to hold talks with government leadership next week to lay out its own interest in the site.
Despite the overtures from major international brands, Browne emphasized the government is prioritizing one non-negotiable condition in any potential sale deal: no drastic, long-term reduction to the resort’s current room count. Club Med’s preliminary interest is tied to a full redevelopment of the property, a project that would temporarily take hundreds of rooms offline at once, contracting Antigua and Barbuda’s total tourism accommodation inventory significantly during construction.
“We cannot afford to lose that many rooms all at once,” Browne explained. “A phased approach, where 100 or 200 rooms are taken offline at a time, works for us because we can maintain overall room capacity through the process.”
Jolly Beach Resort ranks among the largest hotel properties in Antigua and Barbuda, drawing roughly 75,000 guests to the island nation each year. Under current government ownership, the site generates approximately $4 million in annual profit, marking a major turnaround from years of mounting debt and operational failure that preceded the state’s takeover.
The government stepped in to acquire control of the resort when it faced insurmountable debt and operational collapse. A targeted restructuring process, which included selling off a portion of the wider property, allowed the administration to clear all outstanding liabilities and severance payments to former staff while returning the hotel to profitability. It is currently operated under management contract by Elite Island Resorts, which Browne praised for delivering strong performance to date.
Earlier this year, the government unveiled plans for a $13.5 million standalone upgrade of the resort, including modernized air conditioning, enhanced high-speed internet infrastructure, and a new 500-person conference center designed to expand the property’s appeal to the growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) travel segment.
Room capacity remains a central pillar of Antigua and Barbuda’s national tourism growth strategy, as the country works to boost annual visitor arrivals and expand its market share in the Caribbean. Government officials have repeatedly framed Jolly Beach Resort as a strategic national asset, thanks to its large footprint, prime beachfront location, and consistent contribution to local tourism revenue and employment.
As negotiations with Club Med, TUI, and any other prospective bidders move forward, Browne said protecting the resort’s ongoing economic contribution and existing room capacity will remain the government’s top priorities. He added that if a sale that meets the nation’s requirements cannot be reached, the government is fully prepared to retain ownership of the profitable asset.
“Wherever possible, we will continue to hold Jolly Beach as a critical national asset,” Browne said.