Sandals Resorts Will Reopen Five of Its Jamaica Resorts on Dec. 6

After shutting down due to the overwhelming impact of Hurricane Melissa, Sandals Resorts said Monday it plans on welcoming guests back to its Jamaica resorts starting Dec. 6.

Starting then, Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Negril will be open for guests. Executive Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations Gary C. Sadler said in a message to advisors Monday that each of the properties has undergone a full assessment. While some of the resorts could open even sooner, the company made the decision to set a single reopening date to allow its team members time to recover.

“We have made the important decision to set one reopening date for all, to offer a period of rest and recovery for our local team members in Jamaica,” he said. “They have faced numerous challenges due to Hurricane Melissa, and this will enable our team to focus on themselves and their families before returning to work.”

Three other Sandals resorts will not reopen in December—Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals South Coast. The plan is to reopen those three, which all required additional time for renovations, on May 30, 2026.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to restore them to the high standards our guests have come to expect,” Sadler wrote.

Sadler also said that the company’s Montego Bay Call Center was also “significantly impacted” by Melissa, and wait times should remain longer than normal for the time being. The plan is to relocate call center operations. Sandals is “working to complete this process at our earliest opportunity to restore full service,” he added.

Sadler also thanked everyone in the industry for their messages over the last week.

“We are so grateful to everyone who held the Sandals and Beaches Resorts team members, guests, and the local Jamaican communities in their thoughts. The support and care we’ve felt has been profoundly moving, and it is already making a difference,” he said.

While Sandals works to reopen, Jamaica Ministry of Tourism Edmund Bartlett announced his goal for tourism to be “fully back in operation” by Dec. 15, 2025. Philip Rose, deputy director of tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board, told TMR last week that hotels across the island’s tourism belt have varying degrees of damage, “from flooded rooms and power outages to significant structural losses.” 

Hyatt, another major player in the Jamaican all-inclusive space, said on Monday that it would suspend operations, with no new reservations for its Jamaica properties, into January.