Construction enters its final preparatory phase before vertical development
At Jolly Beach, on Antigua’s western coast, preparatory works for the future Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Antigua have been completed. The project is now entering the foundation phase, ahead of the start of vertical construction.
Land clearing, earthworks and grading have been completed. Ground improvement works have also progressed, with more than 4,600 stone columns and 1,200 controlled modulus columns (CMC) installed.
According to the developers, more than 85% of the stone column programme has now been completed, while foundation piling works have begun.
This technical milestone is significant for a development of this scale, located on a coastal site requiring specific ground preparation.
The project is being developed by Ayre Group, through its real estate activities, and will be operated by Nikki Beach Hospitality Group.
Calvin Ayre, Chairman of Ayre Group, describes this phase as the point at which the project is beginning to take physical shape, with the ambition of creating a major wellness destination in the Caribbean.
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An 82-room resort alongside 134 branded residences
The future resort will comprise 82 hotel rooms and 134 branded residences, including 127 one- to three-bedroom apartments and seven four-bedroom beachfront villas.
This configuration combines a traditional hotel operation with a residential development benefiting from the resort’s services and facilities.
Residences are being marketed at prices ranging from $1.2 million to $5 million, while villas start at $7.8 million.
The development also remains eligible for Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), which allows investors meeting the regulatory requirements to apply for citizenship.
Blueprint Global is the exclusive sales agent for the residences.
Beyond accommodation, the resort will feature five food and beverage outlets, two heated swimming pools, a watersports centre and a dedicated children’s and teenagers’ facility called The Reef.
Owners will also have access to a private lounge, a dedicated gym, concierge services and rental management options.
Wellness at the heart of Nikki Beach Antigua’s positioning
The Nikki Spa + Fitness Centre will be one of the project’s principal facilities. Covering approximately 1,022 sq m, it will offer a combination of traditional treatments, physical recovery services and longevity-focused experiences.
Planned facilities include red-light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy and intravenous infusions, alongside a dedicated longevity area.
Indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, private pools, sensory deprivation rooms and cold therapy facilities will complete the offering.
The property will also offer treatment protocols designed around travel and recovery, including the Pre-Flight Sleep Ritual and Jet Lag Recovery Program.
The spa’s architecture has been entrusted to HKS Architects, with interiors designed by ROAM Interior Design Studio. The architectural concept draws inspiration from the movement of waves and the coastal landscape of Jolly Beach.
These proposed services form part of a wellness and longevity positioning. However, their therapeutic effectiveness cannot be established solely on the basis of the project’s presentation.
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Nikki Beach’s first combination of branded residences and a wellness resort
For Nikki Beach Hospitality Group, this development represents a particular milestone in the evolution of its business model.
Historically associated with beach clubs, restaurants and lifestyle hospitality combining music, entertainment and beachfront experiences, the brand now intends to integrate wellness more extensively into its offering.
Lucia Penrod, Co-Founder and CEO of Nikki Beach Hospitality Group, describes Antigua as the brand’s first destination combining branded residences with a resort structured around wellness.
This approach allows the group to extend its lifestyle positioning into hotel stays and residential experiences incorporating a more developed wellness component.
The inclusion of 134 residences alongside 82 hotel rooms also illustrates the importance of the real estate component within the overall economics of the development.
However, the announcement provides no breakdown of investment between the hotel and residential components, nor does it disclose the financial terms of the operating agreement with Nikki Beach.
Ayre Group continues its real estate investment in Antigua
The project forms part of the real estate development activities of Ayre Group, an investment group chaired by Calvin Ayre, with interests spanning technology, media, wellness and tourism.
Its Ayre Developments division claims a leading position in Antigua’s real estate market, with several projects including the Canada Place office complex.
The development of Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Antigua is also expected to generate local economic benefits during construction through the involvement of contractors, suppliers, tradespeople and vocational trainees.
The announced investment of more than $400 million places the development among the island’s major real estate and tourism projects.
Nevertheless, the information disclosed does not allow an assessment of the proportion of financing already committed, the final construction cost or the asset’s projected profitability.
Opening now scheduled for 2030
The development timetable will be one of the key aspects to monitor in the coming months.
While Ayre Group’s corporate presentation still refers to completion in 2029, the latest construction progress announcement now indicates an anticipated opening in 2030.
This difference between the two dates is worth noting, although the available information does not establish whether it represents a formal delay or a distinction between construction completion and commercial opening.
Progress through the next construction milestones should provide a clearer indication of the project’s trajectory.
For Nikki Beach Hospitality Group, the significance extends beyond the opening of another Caribbean destination. The Antigua development is also intended to serve as a reference for an offering combining a resort, branded residences, restaurants and wellness facilities, at a time when hotel groups are increasingly pursuing mixed-use developments.
At a Glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Investment: More than $400 million committed to the Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Antigua development.
Accommodation: 82 hotel rooms and 134 branded residences, including seven beachfront villas.
Construction: Land clearing and grading completed, with more than 4,600 stone columns and 1,200 CMC columns installed.
Wellness offering: An 11,000 sq ft Nikki Spa + Fitness Centre featuring recovery, longevity and hydrothermal facilities.
Development partners: Ayre Group as developer, Nikki Beach Hospitality Group as operator and Blueprint Global as exclusive residential sales agent.
Opening: Currently anticipated in 2030, while the developer’s corporate profile still references 2029.
