Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has began work on a new spa resort at Sunset Bay on the southwest coast of Saint Lucia in the Lesser Antilles.

The 120-bedroom Fairmont Saint Lucia – expected to open in late 2019 – will be spread across 25 acres and feature a 1,870ft private beach.

As well as the 120 hotel rooms, there will be 40 private residential villas, all designed by architects WATG and Wimberly Interiors.

The resort’s signature feature will be a large, 9,000sq ft (836sq m) Fairmont spa.

While the exact details of the wellness areas are yet to be confirmed, the spa will house a number of treatment rooms, a range of pool facilities and have access to a private marina with moorings for deluxe yachts.

The building of the resort has received the backing of the government of St Lucia, which is looking to develop the southern Choiseul region of the island as a luxury tourism destination.

Bradly Felix, the minister for commerce, international trade, investment, enterprise development and consumer affairs, said the entry of Fairmont to the island would be “an important day in history for the people of Choiseul.”

“We will witness the beginning of the long-awaited infrastructural transformation that Choiseul needs in order to bring out its true potential and generate a greater level of economic activity,” Felix said.

“As a community rich in culture, arts and craft, talent, creativity and natural assets, we welcome the construction of this luxury hotel in Sab Wisha, which will further enhance and augment the natural ambiance of our simply beautiful community.”

Fairmont Saint Lucia at Sunset Bay will join the hotel group’s existing Caribbean properties in Barbados and Bermuda and is part of the Fairmont’s plans to expand its presence in the region.