PROVINDENCIALES — An elite group of top-selling agents hosted at this year’s Sandals STAR Awards heard details about six new properties in the works, including the possibility of a new resort site in Trinidad and Tobago. The annual STAR Awards took place last week at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

“Exploration is the discovery of what’s to come and the fear of doing something new. It’s where entrepreneurs come from and it’s where innovation happens,” said Adam Stewart, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “We don’t want to be anything but the best, and we always want to outperform.”

Sandals Resorts has announced it is in discussions with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to bring to life one of the region’s most comprehensive resort developments. An agreement is expected by second quarter 2017.

In other Sandals news, Sandals Barbados, currently under construction, will open its second phase with the two hotels set to function as one, more than tripling the size of Sandals’ footprint on the island.

“There is a fleet of new Sandals innovations that are going to be unveiled with these 222 new rooms – and when I say they are unbelievable, they are unbelievable!” proclaimed Stewart.

Sandals is in discussions to develop a fourth resort in Saint Lucia. This will be in addition to the three Sandals properties already in Saint Lucia that currently enjoy the ‘stay at one, play at all’ exchange program.

“This will be the absolute best of everything we have ever done,” says Stewart. “This will be our biggest hotel in St. Lucia to date, on the best piece of land left on the island, with white sand beach.”

With great access to the international airport, Sandals believes the Beaches concept would be the right complement to the three adult-only Sandals in Montego Bay and is considering options and opportunities.

And finally, Sandals has announced it is working with the Jamaican government to help develop the Port Antonio area of Jamaica, outside Kingston. Sandals is excited about the government’s plans to develop the region where Sandals has held assets including Dragon Bay for years. Airlift into this area is an issue here and Sandals is hopeful that as the government’s plans unfold, the company will be able share more information.

In addition to the six new resorts planned, several of the existing resorts – Beaches Negril, Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Sandals Regency La Toc and Sandals Grande St. Lucian – will also undergo renovations and upgrades. The new style will be light, airy and more modern, and will feature some amazing suites including swim-up rooms, Millionaire Suites and two-storey villas.