Sandals chair updates on Jamaica recovery

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica —Sandals Resorts International’s Executive Chairman Adam Stewart hosted a series of virtual town halls this week for thousands of travel advisors and Sandals Select Reward loyalty members. He delivered a candid update on Jamaica’s recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa last month.

Speaking live from Jamaica, Stewart praised the country’s resilience, as well as the unity of the government, the private sector, and international partners in restoring normalcy across the island. Stewart emphasized that key tourism infrastructure is operational with Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport, Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, and Ocho Rios’ Ian Fleming International Airport all open. Primary roads to Ocho Rios and Negril are cleared and fully accessible.

“Jamaica is going to be okay. In every moment of challenge, including this one, our first responsibility has always been to our team members and the guests who place their trust in us,” he said. “As we share honest, timely information with our travel partners and those who love this country, we want them to know this: the greatest way to support Jamaica is simply to come back. Tourism is the most economically impactful industry in our society, uplifting many sectors of our economy and Jamaican communities across the island.”

Stewart confirmed that Sandals’ resorts in Ocho Rios and Negril are on track to reopen on December 6 with complete services. This includes Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril, which will have undergone additional safety checks during the 30-day pause.

Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals South Coast, which experienced more significant damage, are targeted to reopen on May 30, 2026. Stewart said the resorts will return with additional upgrades.

“One thing I can tell you is that when we come back, we always come back bigger, better and stronger,” he said.

The Sandals Foundation, the company’s nonprofit arm, has launched relief efforts across Jamaica.

Stewart said throughout the storm and its aftermath, approximately 1,000 guests on the island remained safe, with teams voluntarily staying on property to support them and charter flights arranged to help guests return home.

He also said that several million U.S. dollars have already been allocated to team members for personal recovery needs, alongside targeted assistance for those who lost their homes or suffered severe damage.

“We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them and with the people of Jamaica until every community is back on its feet,” Stewart said.

The Sandals Foundation, the company’s nonprofit arm, has launched relief efforts across Jamaica, distributing over 1,000 care packages and 6,000 cases of water to families in remote and hard-to-reach areas. The foundation has also donated critical care equipment to strengthen the Bustamante Hospital for Children and supported the U.S. Army Reserve in rescue and assessment operations at Sandals South Coast. Sandals has repurposed its corporate hangar for medical evacuations and supply missions. Additionally, collaborations with World Central Kitchen and Team Rubicon have established kitchen hubs that serve meals to communities in western Jamaica. Additional efforts include delivering bulk food supplies to community relief centers, providing tarpaulins, flashlights, and baby essentials to families in need, and assisting in the restoration of critical health care services at St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital after it sustained severe storm damage.