The Guanahani is changing hands. The hotel, set on a private peninsula at Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac in Saint-Barthélemy, is joining the Airelles collection, owned by businessman Stéphane Courbit through his holding company LOV Group. Rosewood will cease managing the property from 1 October 2026, ahead of a reopening announced for 1 November under the name Airelles Le Guanahani.
A Transition Officially Confirmed by Rosewood
In a communication sent to its clientele and visible on its website, Rosewood states that from 1 October 2026, the group will cease managing Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth as part of the property’s transition to a new owner and operator. The group says it wants to make the transition as smooth as possible and to ensure guests have the information and assistance they need ahead of their stay.
This official communication does not directly name Airelles as the incoming operator. The buyer’s identity was revealed by the American and French press, before being confirmed by the reopening timeline announced for 1 November. The roughly one-month gap between the end of Rosewood’s management and the reopening could correspond to an operational transition period, though no closure to the public has been confirmed at this stage.
A Deal Settled by the Bonderman Estate
Le Guanahani previously belonged to David Bonderman, a discreet American financier, co-founder of investment fund TPG and a member of Ryanair’s board of directors. He died two years ago at the age of 82. According to a source close to the hotel, none of his children were interested in taking over the property.
The management contract linking the property to Rosewood included an exit clause available in 2026. David Bonderman‘s heirs triggered this clause and put the hotel up for sale. The Airelles group, which had been following the matter for several years, seized the opportunity.
A Property With an Eventful History
Opened in 1986, Le Guanahani was forced to close in 2017 following damage caused by Hurricane Irma. The property remained closed for more than three years while Rosewood carried out a full renovation, before reopening in late 2021 as Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth. At the time, this repositioning represented the American group’s third address in the Caribbean and its first in the French Antilles.
The property spans a private peninsula of around 7.3 hectares overlooking two beaches, Marigot Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac, making it the island’s largest hotel property, with 66 rooms, suites and villas.
Reservations From the US Trade Press
The news was first revealed by American outlet One Mile at a Time, which specialises in luxury hospitality and loyalty programmes, before being confirmed by the French press and then by Rosewood itself. The outlet raised several reservations about how well the deal fits Airelles’ usual positioning.
According to that analysis, Le Guanahani has only one main restaurant, whereas most Airelles properties, even those of comparable size, offer several. The colonial Caribbean cottage architecture was also considered less distinctive than that of the collection’s other addresses, which are built around historic landmarks such as the Château de Versailles or the Château de la Messardière.
These reservations should nonetheless be seen in context: they come from an outlet geared towards the general public and travel, not a financial or institutional source, and they do not take into account any future investment plans discussed internally by the hotel’s management.
Rosewood Gives Up a Jewel at the Height of Its International Recognition
This departure comes at a particular moment for Rosewood. The same week, the group placed four of its properties in the World’s 50 Best Hotels ranking, unveiled on 15 September in Paris, including Rosewood Hong Kong, ranked first in the world for the second consecutive year.
This parallel should, however, be qualified. Le Guanahani’s exit stems from a contractual clause triggered by the former owner’s family estate, rather than a strategic choice by Rosewood. The American group is meanwhile continuing to expand in the ultra-luxury segment, as illustrated by the recent opening of its first ski resort, Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin.
In any case, the change of brand is not expected to bring any immediate upheaval for the teams.
Airelles’ Caribbean Conquest, Part of a Long-Standing Strategy
Stéphane Courbit had expressed interest in Saint-Barthélemy as early as 2019. Since acquiring Les Airelles in Courchevel in 2007, the businessman has built, through LOV Group, a portfolio of around a dozen luxury hotels spanning Courchevel, Val d’Isère, Gordes, Saint-Tropez, the Château de Versailles and Provence, under the leadership of the group’s CEO, Anne-Laure Ollagnon.
Le Guanahani is Airelles’ first property in the Caribbean, a region previously absent from the collection.
🔗 Also on LTH: Courchevel winter 2025-2026: renovated and new hotels, including the reopening of the Palace Les Airelles
At a Glance
Rosewood ends management of Le Guanahani St. Barth as the property transitions to Airelles Collection.
Buyer/incoming operator: Stéphane Courbit, via LOV Group / Airelles Collection
Timeline: Rosewood management ends October 1, 2026 (officially confirmed); Airelles Le Guanahani reopening announced for November 1
Property: approx. 7.3 hectares, 66 rooms, suites & villas; closed 2017-2021 after Hurricane Irma
US trade press (One Mile at a Time) flags concerns over brand fit – single restaurant, less distinctive architecture than typical Airelles properties
Strategic significance: first Caribbean property for Airelles Collection
