Riu outlines plan to reopen all Jamaica hotels following Hurricane Melissa

Riu Hotels & Resorts is ready to reopen all seven of its hotels in Jamaica before the end of the year in the wake of last month’s devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

 

The reopening in phases is accompanied by the return of charter flights from key markets such as the UK, Canada and the Netherlands with Tui and Sunwing.

 

Tui last week confirmed a partial return of flights and packages from yesterday (Monday).

 

The Riu Ocho Rios, located in one of the destinations least affected by the hurricane, has remained open and has already recovered all its services. 

 

The Riu Montego Bay reopened on Sunday, followed yesterday (Monday) by the Riu Palace Jamaica.

 

Four remaining properties - Riu Reggae, Riu Negril, Riu Palace Tropcial Bay and Riu Palace Aquarelle - have tentative opening dates scheduled between November 30 and December 15.

 

A statement from the Spanish hotel group said: “Riu’s operational and technical team worked on the necessary cleaning and repair work just a few days after Melissa passed to ensure the hotels were ready in record time. 

 

“The main challenges were restoring water and electricity services, which fortunately are already functioning in all destinations.”

 

The company provided $1 million in direct aid, with 80% going directly to staff affected by the hurricane. An interest-free credit line of $1.3 million  was also given to help repair damage.

 

The remaining 20% of the aid fund is being allocated to the Jamaican community, including humanitarian aid to deliver 1,750 support packages to isolated communities with limited assistance. 

 

Riu partnered with the NGO World Central Kitchen to prepare and distribute more than 7,000 meals a day from Negril and Montego Bay to affected communities. 

 

“This initiative pursues the dual objective of providing one hot meal a day in the most affected areas and, at the same time, offering a source of employment to our employees while normal operations are being restored,” the company said.

 

Riu’s seven hotels in Jamaica are in Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Falmouth, totalling more than 4,000 rooms and with 4,000 employees. 

 

The opening of Riu Palace Aquarelle last year was described as a “clear demonstration of the chain’s strong commitment to Jamaica, consolidating it as one of the most important destinations for Riu in the Caribbean”.