Despite APD increases and fuel surcharges Sandals has reported a successful year, with booking revenues up 20% year on year since January and an increase in the average length of stay from 10 to 11 nights.
Sandals properties in the Bahamas have enjoyed particular success, with bookings from the UK up 30% this year, following the $17 million development of the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and the growing popularity of Sandals Emerald Bay. The Eastern Caribbean also had a strong season, with bookings in St Lucia and Antigua up 20%.
However, UK bookings to Sandals properties in Jamaica have remained flat, which managing director Karl Thompson attributed to the loss of a British Airways flight into Montego Bay. “But we expect growth in Jamaica next year with the additional capacity from VirginAtlantic’s third weekly flight into Montego Bay, which started on November 3,” he added.
The group has completed renovations on a number of properties this year, including extensive work at Beaches Ocho Rios, which is reopening on November 15 following a €30 million refurbishment.