NPS Extends Application Time for Potential Developers of Caneel Bay

The National Park Service has announced a two-month extension of the first major step in the process of selecting a new operator of the Caneel Bay Resort on St. John. The iconic resort located within the Virgin Islands National Park has been closed since it was severely damaged by hurricanes in 2017.

Upon request from Del. Stacey Plaskett, the Park Service announced that the deadline for responding to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been extended to Feb. 28, 2025. Applicants must submit their intention to send in a proposal by Feb. 7.

The Request for Qualifications outlines the Park Service’s overall vision for the resort and provides a framework for potential developers to prove that they have the experience, technical expertise, and financial qualifications to develop the property.

Once all of the responses to the RFQ have been submitted, the applications will be reviewed by NPS in a detailed process that is expected to take around six months. At that point, four or five developers will be invited to refine their proposals for the next round in the selection process known as the Request for Proposals (RFP.)