Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, US VI, Mourns Death of Dick Doumeng, Hotel Industry Pioneer

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. November 26, 2012

November 26, 2012 - Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in the US Virgin Islands, family owned since 1974, is deeply saddened to announce the death of its patriarch, owner and veteran Caribbean hotelier Dick Doumeng.

Mr. Doumeng, 78, died on November 19, 2012, on St. Thomas of natural causes resulting from pulmonary fibrosis.

Becoming owner of what was then Bolongo Beach Hotel, now Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, in January 1974, sparked a life-long love for the hotel business and the island. He had a passion to improve the community in his desire to keep people employed, and the former jewelry and watch sales executive from Long Island and his wife Joyce, a nurse from Canada, turned the once struggling hotel into one of the most successful resorts in the Caribbean.

Dick is considered a pioneer in the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry. In 1974, he became the first hotelier to bring the All Inclusive concept to the US Virgin Islands and was also instrumental in expanding Bolongo Bay from a 37-room hotel to what it is today with 72 rooms, two oceanfront restaurants and activities that rival large, branded properties. His secret to success was to take care of guests the way that he wanted to be cared for when he traveled. Treating people like family continues to be a guiding principle at Bolongo Bay that is carried on by the current and second generation of management.

In addition to being a successful hotelier, Dick was president of the St. Thomas/St. John Hotel Association in the 1970's and continued to serve six different terms. He also represented the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), where he was a member for more than 30 years, had served as Regional Vice President, and also held the position of CHTA Director for 20 years.

In 1988, Dick and his wife Joyce received the CHTA's highest honor of “Caribbean Hoteliers of the Year” earning a place in the CHTA Hall of Fame. The couple was the first and only husband and wife team to win the prestigious award.

Dick also served for many years as Director of the American Hotel and Motel Association. On St. Thomas, he was one of the first hoteliers to serve on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as its Vice President.

In addition to Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Dick has owned and operated several tourism-related businesses on St. Thomas including charter boats, four hotels and seven restaurants. He founded The St. Thomas Dive Club, the largest diving company on the island, managed the Captain Yellowbird Whale Bar & Disco, led the efforts to relocate the Cartanser Senior to create a shipwreck dive site, and worked with the Community Crime Committee and The Solid Waste Pilot Project. Today, the Doumeng family continues to operate The Inn at Villa Olga on St. Thomas, award-winning Heavenly Days catamaran, Iggies, one of the Caribbean's best beach bars, and The Lobster Grille in addition to Bolongo Bay.

Dick was a man of great vision, a 'possibility' thinker and had great faith in God. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends in the Virgin Islands.

He is survived by his wife Joyce, 5 children and 9 grandchildren. His eldest son, Richard Doumeng, is the current President of CHTA and continues to run Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas as Managing Director along with several other family members - his wife Katarina, brother Paul Doumeng, sister-in-law Colleen Doumeng, sister Laura Doumeng, and several of their children who are the third generation at the resort.