Sandals and Beaches Resorts to keep three Jamaica properties closed for seven months

Sandals and Beaches Resorts have revealed three of their Jamaica properties will remain closed for seven months in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with the other five properties set to reopen next month.

The hurricane was the most severe to hit Jamaica in the country’s recorded history, causing at least 32 deaths and widespread damage to buildings and roads.

Sandals and Beaches Resorts said five of their eight Jamaica properties – Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril – are expected to open from December 6, once recovery work has been completed.

 

But Karl Thompson, UK managing director for Unique Caribbean Holidays Ltd (UCHL), the in-house UK tour operator for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, added: “Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals South Coast will have a more extended timeline for improvements, and will open on May 30, 2026.”

 

The operator said travel agents with clients who are due to travel to Jamaica soon would be contacted shortly. Agents with queries in the meantime can email flightops@sandals.co.uk. 

 

Agents who have clients with bookings to Sandals or Beaches Resorts in Jamaica which have been made through another tour operator should contact them directly to discuss the booking, UCHL said.

 

The December 6 reopening date has been chosen to enable staff to “recharge and care for their families and communities before returning to work”.

 

Sandals Resorts International executive chairman Adam Stewart said: “Jamaica is a large and diverse island, and each region has experienced the storm differently.

 

“In Ocho Rios, which is in the parish of St Ann, our resorts were largely unaffected by the most severe impacts.

 

“We have meticulously surveyed each resort, and all systems and amenities will be fully operational, to welcome guests with confidence once again.”

 

He added: “Our team members have shown extraordinary commitment, and their spirit is indomitable.”

 

Stewart was recently appointed by Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett to serve on the country’s Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force.

 

UCHL said it had managed to bring all of its Sandals and Beaches Resorts guests back to the UK following the reopening of airports and the resumption of commercial flights.

 

Thompson encouraged the trade to support the Sandals Foundation’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Mission and also urged agents to continue booking Jamaica trips for clients.

 

“I know the trade in the UK will get behind vital relief initiatives, as they have done already, and help the island through a combination of aid and business,” he said.

 

“We need agents to support the destination and to keep booking holidays to Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts’ properties.

 

“UCHL will also be donating £10 to the Sandals Foundation’s Hurricane Melissa relief fund for every Sandals or Beaches Resorts booking made between now and November 30.

 

“All bookings made during this period will help to make a difference to the Caribbean communities who have been affected by the hurricane.

 

“Travel agents can also make a donation to the Sandals Foundation’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Mission at www.sandalsfoundation.org.”