Ayre Group and Nikki Beach Hospitality Group announced their partnership to open Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Antigua, which will also feature a beach club - Nikki Beach Antigua- as well as branded, private Nikki Beach Residences.

The details of the resort were unveiled at a groundbreaking ceremony on Jolly Beach, the location for the new development. The mile long Jolly Beach is located on the island's beautiful west coast,an immaculate example of one of Antigua's 365 powdery-white sand beaches.TheUS$400m+ development will be an immediate neighbour to the Jolly Harbour community.

Nikki Beach Hospitality Group prides itself on providing guests with an unrivalled and distinctive barefoot luxury lifestyle experience.The properties feature cutting-edge architecture, contemporary dining, indulgent Nikki Spa services and signature entertainment, creating an atmosphere that caters to those seeking both high and low energy offerings.

Nikki BeachResort & Spa Antigua will become a marketing anchor for the broader tourism destination of Antigua andcatalyse local private investment.

Lucia Penrod, Co-founder, CEO and Owner of Nikki Beach Hospitality Group and Calvin Ayre, Chairman of the Ayre Group) — Photo by Nikki Beach Hospitality Group

The property will boast state of the art facilities including 82 hotel rooms and suites,181 luxury branded residences of up to four bedrooms, comprising studios, apartments, and beach-front villas of varying sizes, with a total of 263 resort keys reflecting 876 guest beds on-site. Additionally, owners of the branded residences will be able to participate in a rental program.

Besides the iconic beachclub with its own boat drop-off point, there will be five additional food and beverage outlets on-site as well asextensivehealth and wellness areasincluding Tone Gym and Nikki Spa. This will also include cryo, hyperbaric, hydrothermal, red-light, and IV therapy rooms, an aquatic centre, and an exclusive residence owner's lounge with a private gym.

The combination of world-class facilities nestled in breathtaking natural beauty will make Nikki BeachResort & Spa Antigua and the Nikki Beach Residences a high-end destination for guests and residence owners alike.

The Antigua resort has been designed by HKS Architects and ROAM Interior Design (formerly HKS Hospitality Interiors), two of the world's leading design firms for the hospitality, leisure, and entertainment industries. A hallmark of HKS's award-winning work is their attention and sensitivity to the influences of local culture, natural resources, local communities, and the spirit of the location.

A significant investment will be made in the resort's development and the expectation is that around 300 long term jobs will be created on the island along with a similar number of shorter-term construction jobs.

During construction, a diverse workforce will be required for the project and once operational the resort will create significant full-time employment, resulting from the expected high levels of occupancy. Local suppliers will expand to cater for the resort's operational needs, as well as to independently service a higher volume of tourists throughout the region.

The construction workforce will as far as possible be sourced locally, where the appropriate skills are available, and the development team will be looking to utilise as much of the Antiguan supply chain as possible in terms of workforce, subcontractors, and suppliers.