MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA — Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has announced plans to reopen five of its resorts in Jamaica following the impacts of Hurricane Melissa, with properties in Ocho Rios and Negril welcoming guests back on Dec. 6, 2025.

After debris removal and extensive landscaping and repairs, Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril will reopen with all facilities and amenities fully operational. The company’s remaining three resorts in Jamaica — Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals South Coast — will follow a longer restoration schedule, reopening on May 30, 2026.

“Jamaica is a large and diverse island, and each region has experienced the storm differently,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International. “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.”

Stewart noted that the December reopening also allows team members time to recharge and care for their families and communities before returning to work. “Our team members have shown extraordinary commitment, and their spirit is indomitable,” he added.

Stewart, recently appointed by Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett to the country’s Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force, and also serving as a special investment envoy for tourism, highlighted the role of visitors in Jamaica’s recovery. “Tourism is a vital part of Jamaica’s national recovery, and guests can feel confident that the best way to support the region is by visiting and returning to the island they love,” he said. “And if there’s one thing I can tell you: at Sandals, when we come back, we always come back bigger, stronger and better than before.”

In addition to resort restoration, the Sandals Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, is leading relief efforts for affected communities. Established in 2009, the Foundation focuses on education, community development and environmental protection, with 100% of donations going directly to relief and rebuilding initiatives.

To donate to the Sandals Foundation in Canada and receive a tax receipt, contact aallen@uvisandals.ca.

Alternatively, donations can be made via cheque, payable to ‘Sandals Foundation Canada’ and sent to: Sandals Foundation Canada, c/o Unique Vacations (Canada) Inc, 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 320, Toronto, ON M2P 2A9.