An update on resorts and new attractions in America’s Caribbean.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires U.S. travelers to have a passport to visit Canada, Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean, went into effect in January. As the increased demand for passports clogs the processing services, and passport delays continue to stretch past 10 weeks for regular processing and up to six weeks for expedited service, your clients may worry if their passports will be ready in time or if their vacations are in jeopardy.

Fortunately, there is at least one Caribbean destination where passports are not necessary for U.S. citizens. As a U.S. territory, visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands are not required to have a passport. Indeed, U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the country. That means for U.S. citizens to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands, the only documentation necessary is a government-issued picture ID, making the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix excellent choices for your clients who want to take a tropical vacation but do not have a passport.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are prepared for the anticipated increase in demand with spectacular natural beauty, world class resorts, and fascinating attractions and activities. There has also been significant investment in properties, new developments and new attractions on the islands. According to the U.S Virgin Islands Department of Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty, hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on renovations and new projects, such as Yacht Haven Grande.

Officially opened in March with a giant party including fireworks and the Beach Boys, Yacht Haven Grande in the St. Thomas harbor caters to luxury and mega yachts. In addition to the 48-slip marina, the $160 million development includes an 80,000-square-foot retail village, 30,000-square-feet of office space, 12 luxury condos and four restaurants. In the developments second phase, there are plans to add a 70-room hotel, another 40,000-square-feet of retail space, a 25,000-square-foot conference center, more marina space and possibly two more restaurants.

Many of the top resorts in the U.S. Virgin Islands are completing renovations and upgrades. All major properties now offer high-speed Internet access (frequently wireless) spa facilities, a fitness center, gift shop, activities desk, non-motorized watersports, on-site weddings and various other amenities. Guest rooms are typically equipped with air conditioning, hair dryers, guest safes and minibars and some resorts offer kitchenettes. In addition, many of the resorts have completed refurbishments, further enhancing their amenities.

The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas recently concluded a $40 million renovation that doubled the size of its spa, added a club level, 55 club level rooms, and four presidential suites. A new restaurant, Bleuwater, features local seafood and other Caribbean-inspired cuisine.

The first large hotel in the U.S. Virgin Islands and still the biggest, with more than 400 rooms, the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef overlooking the Charlotte Amalie harbor has undergone a $25 million renovation over the past three years. Upgrades include new “revive beds,” more new furniture and revamping the public areas.

A new general manager, Larry Magor, at the Wyndham Sugar Bay on St. Thomas announced in May plans for a series of improvements aimed at upgrading the resort to a four-diamond rating. Changes include a new fountain at the entrance; additional staff, including a romance department; and several electronic blackjack tables in the gaming room, the largest on St. Thomas. All of the resort’s 300 guest rooms and suites have recently been completely renovated, including the bathrooms, and an all-inclusive plan has been introduced. In 2002, Wyndham Sugar Bay opened its $1.5 million Journeys Spa as the largest full-service spa in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 10,000-square-foot spa includes a large fitness center and six treatment rooms.

Across from the Cyril E. King airport on St. Thomas, the Best Western Emerald Beach is currently undergoing renovations to refurbish the bathrooms, including new tubs, and adding flat screen TVs, DVD players and wireless Internet access.

The only large hotel in downtown Charlotte Amalie, the Holiday Inn recently added a Priority Club Lounge, new gaming center, expanded its dive shop (the largest on the island), added a courtyard bar with nightly live entertainment, a spa with two treatment rooms. Free wireless Internet service is now available throughout the property.

The family owned and operated Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas, home to the locally famous Iggies Restaurant, is also undergoing room renovations to replace beds and furniture that will be completed within the next month. The resort pioneered an optional all-inclusive plan unique in the U.S. Virgin Islands that offers 100 percent a la carte dining and premium beverages with the motto “No Extra Charge.”

Caneel Bay Resort, set on 170 acres in Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, in May was ranked the Number One Tennis Resort in the Caribbean by “Tennis Online,” among other awards including “Conde Nast Traveler’s” Gold List and Reader’s Choice Awards. Reopened in 1996 after extensive refurbishments, Caneel Bay offers 11 tennis courts and complimentary tennis programs for guests, 166 charming guest rooms, seven secluded beaches, the Self Centre Retreat, four restaurants, a private wine room and “Turtle Town” for kids.

The Westin St. John is undergoing major expansion plans, adding 94 two- and three-bedroom villas to 92 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom existing villas. In addition, the resort is converting 186 hillside hotel rooms to vacation ownership villas. The first phase, which includes 54 villas, is expected to finish later this year.

On St. Croix, the historic Buccaneer Resort will be launching a five-year upgrade beginning this summer that includes room renovations, expanding the ocean view terrace and lobby, and continued renovations on the property’s tennis courts. The 340-acre resort, which features an 18-hole golf course, has been family owned and operated since 1948.

St. Croix’s Carambola Beach Resort slated to become a Renaissance Hotel this fall, is close to completing a $20 million refurbishment. The 150 guest rooms in 25 separate buildings now have marble floors and granite countertops, including kitchenettes with full-size refrigerators, dishwashers, two-element stove tops and microwaves, and oversize marble showers, king-size beds and pull-out couches. The open-air entrance has also been revamped with marble floors and curtains. The resort also boasts a new spa, opened in February, with three treatment rooms and a hair salon.

The Divi Carina Bay also on St. Croix and the only resort in the U.S.V.I. to have a full casino, opened a new wing with 50 guest rooms and spa with three treatment rooms in September of 2005. Catering to families, a miniature golf facility will be opened shortly and construction is scheduled to begin on a driving range and pizza restaurant.

Traditionally the U.S.V.I.’s predominant attraction has been duty-free shopping, but the islands have also seen significant growth and expansion of attractions and activities. The newest attraction on St. Thomas, swimming with sea lions at Coral World Ocean Park (888-695-2073), was launched in April. The park now offers an Undersea Observatory, a 50,000-gallon tank with sharks, eels, tarpon and other deepwater predators; an 80,000 gallon open aquarium with coral, sponges and tropical fish; a Marine Garden with another 21 aquariums; a young shark pool; touch pool; and other interesting and educational exhibits.

In addition to enhanced shopping in Charlotte Amalie, other island attractions include submarine rides with Atlantis Adventures (866-546-7820) cable-car rides over the harbor with Paradise Point Skyrides (340-774-9809) and kayak tours with Virgin Islands Ecotours (340-779-2155). For those interested in shopping, the U.S.V.I. recently raised the duty-free allowance to $1,600 per person. There are now hundreds of stores in Charlotte Amalie offering discounts on jewelry, alcohol, china, crystal, perfumes, art, clothing, watches and cameras, as well as souvenir items.

Each of the U.S. Virgin Islands is unique and St. Croix offers a variety of different attractions, many historic and cultural. Island four-wheel-drive tours are available with Tan Tan Tours (340-773-7041), as well as tours of Salt River (where Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493 on his second trip to the New World), the underwater Buck Island national park and the abundant rain forest. The island of St. John, on the other hand, is two-thirds national park, and the majority of its attractions involve the pristine natural environment. These include an underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay, spectacular beaches, scuba diving, miles of hiking trails, kayak tours, boat rentals and more.

With so many beautiful accommodations, exciting attractions and no passport required, the U.S. Virgin Islands are now, more than ever, an excellent choice of vacation destination for your clients.