Some resorts already are welcoming back guests, while others
in harder-hit regions face lengthy reopening timelines.
INTERNATIONAL REPORT – Jamaica’s hospitality sector is
facing an uneven recovery following Hurricane Melissa with some resorts already
welcoming back guests while others in harder-hit regions face lengthy reopening
timelines.
Properties in the Montego Bay area were hit much harder by
the hurricane’s October 28 landfall than those in Ocho Rios and Negril.
“Jamaica is a large and diverse island, and each region has
experienced the storm differently,” said Adam Stewart, executive chairman of
Sandals Resorts International, which has eight resorts across the island.
Five of the group’s resorts in Negril and Ocho Rios will
reopen December 6: the Sandals Dunn's River, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal
Plantation, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril. Sandals said that some of those
resorts could theoretically open soon -- Steward said the Ocho Rios
properties were “largely unaffected by the most severe impacts” -- but that the
company set the December date “to offer a period of rest and recovery for our
local team members in Jamaica.”
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.
Adam Stewart
That wasn’t the case for the company's properties in Montego
Bay and White House. The Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and
Sandals South Coast resorts won’t reopen until May 30.
Likewise, Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection has suspended
operations and new bookings at its eight Montego Bay-area properties through
January, including the Breathless Montego Bay, Dreams Rose Hall, Hyatt Zilara
Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Secrets St. James Montego Bay, Secrets Wild
Orchid Montego Bay, Jewel Grande Montego Bay and Zoetry Montego Bay Jamaica.
As of October 31, Hyatt said it was conducting detailed
assessments to determine the extent of physical damage.
Salamander Collection’s Half Moon resort, also in Montego
Bay, aims to reopen December 15, citing impacts to local infrastructure as a
factor in its timeline. The property added that it plans a phased reopening,
initially welcoming guests to its Eclipse at Half Moon and Villas at Half Moon
accommodations.
Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Montego Bay set a December
8 reopening. The luxury resort added that it hopes to open sooner. Round Hill
said that although it remains “fully intact,” impact to local infrastructure
has affected its ability to reopen.
The Palace Company’s Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios was
among the resorts that reported no significant impact; guests were able to
return to their rooms and access the property’s facilities, pool and beach the
day after the hurricane. The resort is currently welcoming guests, although a
Moon Palace Jamaica spokesperson said there are limited commercial flights
available. Roads in the Ocho Rios area are accessible.
“We are now assisting other properties that are sending
their reservations to us, because unfortunately they were affected, most of
them in the Montego Bay area,” said Daniel Adolfo Conte, vice president of
commercial relations at the Palace Company.
Couples Resorts, which operates four properties in Ocho Rios
and Negril, also reported minimal impact but delayed reopening until December 1
while the island undergoes a full assessment.
Luxury boutique hotel GoldenEye, located on the island’s
eastern end along Oracabessa Bay, sustained minimal damage and announced a November
6 reopening.
Task force to aid comeback
In support of the islandwide recovery effort, Jamaica’s
Ministry of Tourism has activated a Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force, with
minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett setting a December 15 target date for
Jamaica’s tourism industry to be fully operational.
Among those appointed to serve on the task force is Sandals’
Stewart, who emphasized that returning visitors will play a key role in
Jamaica's comeback.
“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,” Stewart said.
The late-October timing of Hurricane Melissa adds to the
island’s challenges, as many closures are expected to stretch over the crucial
holiday season.
“That’s peak season, and they’re losing out on it,” said
Michael Cummings, CBRE's managing director for valuation and advisory services.
“It's going to be a while before Jamaica recovers.”
Cummings added that immediate humanitarian needs will
continue to take precedence over resort operations.
“How can you expect somebody to come back and work your
resort when they don’t have a home?” he said.
Note: This story originally appeared on Travel Weekly