Sandals Shares Jamaica Resort Recovery Update After Hurricane
Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, CD, delivered an in-depth update on Jamaica’s tourism recovery and the status of Sandals and Beaches properties following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. The update came during an exclusive travel advisor town hall webinar on November 13, attended by more than 2,900 advisors and industry professionals. Stewart opened by thanking travel advisors for their continued loyalty to Jamaica and the Sandals and Beaches brands, emphasizing the company’s commitment to restoring inventory “better than it was before.” He also expressed gratitude to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom for their support and humanitarian aid.
Stewart shared that several properties—Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril—will reopen on December 6, 2025. These resorts sustained minimal damage, and the closures primarily allow the company to support employees affected by the hurricane. Other properties, including Sandals South Coast, Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean, experienced more significant impacts and will remain closed until May 30, 2026 to complete repairs and planned upgrades. Sandals Royal Caribbean’s new overwater bungalows remained structurally intact, though some interior damage occurred, while Sandals South Coast will undergo roof and infrastructure restoration.
No guests or staff were injured during Hurricane Melissa. Travelers with upcoming reservations at affected resorts are being contacted and rebooked at alternate Sandals and Beaches locations across the Caribbean. Stewart, speaking as a sixth-generation Jamaican, highlighted the resilience and unity of the Jamaican people and reaffirmed his pride in the country’s rapid recovery efforts.
The Sandals Foundation has contributed more than $1 million to hurricane relief efforts and is working with governmental and nonprofit partners on both immediate and long-term recovery needs, including rebuilding schools in rural communities. Stewart noted that Jamaica’s major airports have reopened, cruise operations have resumed and many signature attractions—such as Dunn’s River Falls—are once again welcoming visitors, underscoring the island’s determination to rebound quickly.