The Newest Sandals Resort Officially Opens in Ocho Rios
by Daniel McCarthy /On Wednesday, Sandals celebrated the official opening of Sandals Dunn’s River, the 17th resort in Sandals’ growing portfolio.
“Ocho Rios has been the backdrop of some of my family’s most pivotal moments, including along this very beach where my father grew up and turned a perhaps once unimaginable dream into one of the world’s most well-known hotel brands,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.
“Today, we celebrate innovation and a commitment to excellence as we unveil the next generation of Sandals Resorts in our home country of Jamaica. I cannot think of a better way to honor his legacy and acknowledge the incredible future of our brand than to welcome our very first guests to Sandals Dunn’s River. It’s great to have you home.”
Located on a stretch of white sound beach, handpicked by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart over 30 years ago, the hotel opens its doors with 260 luxury all-inclusive rooms and a number of firsts for Sandals, including:
- The first-ever Tufa Terrace SkyPool Butler Suites in Jamaica include glass-panel edge infinity pools spanning the length of suites’ balconies.
- Coyaba Sky Swim-up Rondoval Butler Suites with Private Pools are circular, standalone villas with open-air rooftops allowing guests to sleep under the Ocho Rios night sky.
- Mammee Bay Beachfront Butler Suites with expansive balconies that overlook the sea that has guaranteed sunset views.
- Travertine Beachfront Club Level Rooms, are named after the natural limestone steps in Dunn’s River Falls.
For dining, Sandals Dunn’s River includes 12 new culinary concepts including BLUM, a coffee outpost with 25-cup cold drip towers and nitro cold brew on tap; Dunn’s Rum Club, which features the largest selection of rum in Jamaica; Lapidus Lounge, a homage to the architect who designed the site’s first resort (Arawak Hotel); and the Laughing Waters Beach Bar, named after the fresh waterfalls nearby.
There’s also an authentic Jamaican eatery called the Jerk Shack, which offers a menu of fried sweet corn cakes, spicy “jerked” meats, and seafood infused with local allspice and scotch bonnet pepper; Hamani, a sushi restaurant; L’Amande, a French restaurant; and Saltaire, which offers “live-action” breakfast and lunch selection.
Sandals Dunn’s River also includes five pools, and two river pools, along with the Red Land Spa, which Sandals says will be “one of the most luxurious for the brand.”
Guests at the resort will get access to the newly refurbished Sandals Upton Estate Golf & Country Club, where they’ll be able to tee off with complimentary green fees.