Sandals Resorts is to convert its Sandals Emerald Bay resort into a Beaches branded resort, bringing the family brand to the Bahamas for the first time.
Sandals Emerald Bay will shut on August 15 and work will start in the autumn to transform the resort into Beaches Exuma, although no opening date has yet been given.
The company said a “small number” of UK agent bookings were affected by the closure of the Sandals resort. It is currently contacting those with clients booked for Sandals Emerald Bay through its operator Unique Caribbean Holidays Ltd (UCHL) for stays after August 15. It is offering options to rebook at another Sandals resort or compensation, including resort or air credits.
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Beaches Exuma will be the brand’s fourth resort.
The resort was originally developed as a family-orientated resort when it opened more than 20 years ago with beaches, swimming pools and play and amenity spaces along a large seafront area.
Exuma is renowned for its marine ecosystems and sea life, beaches and expansive sandbars.
Sandals Resorts International executive chairman Adam Stewart said: “Exuma was made for families and with more than 6,000 feet of shoreline, the new Beaches Exuma will be a gateway to discovering the incomparable beauty of this part of The Bahamas.”
He cited memories of his own family holidays in Exuma, calling it “one of nature’s most inspiring playgrounds” with swimming pigs, sea turtles, and sandbars.
The new Beaches Exuma will include a variety of rooms for different family sizes with multi-bedroom villas, suites and connecting rooms while its 12 restaurants and food outlets will be upgraded and a new kids’ camp and splash deck will be developed.
It will retain existing amenities such as the Red Lane Spa and access to the Greg Norman designed 18-hole Emerald Bay golf course but also plans to offer new adventure opportunities for the family market.
The news was welcomed by The Bahamas deputy prime minister and minister of tourism and aviation Chester Cooper.
“Sandals has been a trusted partner with The Bahamas for many years. We will miss the Sandals Emerald Bay, but we welcome Beaches Exuma, which will be an expanded endeavour that caters to more visitors and employs more Bahamians. Exuma is my home and I’ll be with her every step of this journey,” he said.
The rebranding is part of Sandals’ strategic plan to significantly increase its footprint across the Caribbean. Recent new resorts include Sandals Dunn’s River in Jamaica, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sandals Royal Curaçao.