"BLANK CANVAS"

Sandals Delays Jamaica Reopenings to Launch US$200M Upgrade Program

Aerial rendering of the main pool at Sandals South Coast

As part of the Sandals 2.0 initiative, the company plans to invest $200 million into the transformation of three Jamaica resorts that have been closed since Hurricane Melissa damages.

Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals South Coast in Jamaica, which were slated to reopen 30MAY, will remain closed for renovations until the end of the year.

As Open Jaw reported in November 2025, the three resorts were part of a number which sustained damage during last fall’s hurricane. While five Sandals properties reopened in December 2025, three remained closed "for assessment." The company now says it is undertaking a “comprehensive transformation” of the remaining properties.

Reopenings will be phased over time with Sandals South Coast slated for 18NOV, 2026, followed by Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay on 18DEC, 2026.

Aerial rendering of Sandals Montego Bay showing a reimagined beachfront

Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman at Sandals, described the closure as a “blank canvas” moment. “The opportunity to completely reimagine three resorts at this scale, with full focus and without compromising the guest experience, is extraordinarily rare.

“We spent time walking the properties, speaking with our team and thinking about our guests. At a pivotal moment, it became clear: we shouldn’t simply restore what was there. We should dream bigger,” he added.

The company says the overhaul will touch nearly every part of the guest experience while “preserving the sense of place and unmistakable spirit” of the resorts. Upgrades will include new accommodation categories, redesigned pools, and refreshed lounge and social spaces.

There will also be new "dining concepts and bar experiences across each resort".

Sandals emphasizes that all other resorts in Jamaica “continue to operate and welcome guests”. These include Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Negril.

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