Durrant Pate/ Contributor

Sandals Resorts International (SRI), which operates the Sandals Resorts (couples-only) and Beaches Resorts (family-friendly) brands located throughout the Caribbean, has disclosed that five of its resort properties in Jamaica, namely Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril, will reopen on December 6, 2025.

On October 28, 2025, parts of Jamaica were decimated by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa with winds of 185 miles an hour, causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The damage to the country has been initially placed at US$6 billion. The destruction wrought on the country saw many hotels’ operations impacted, with staff displaced, supplies gone awry and damage to buildings.

After monitoring efforts to become fully operational, Sandals, the leading hotel chain in Jamaica, informed guests, “Just one week ago, the world watched as Hurricane Melissa grew into one of the most significant storms on record before making landfall in Jamaica. Incredibly, we also witnessed something even greater: the unbreakable spirit of Jamaica, along with the incredible support from across the wider Caribbean and around the world.

“Millions sent messages of hope and reached out to express just how beloved Jamaica is as a destination. 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.”

SRI explained that “some of the five resorts reopening next month could be available to open sooner, further explaining that the important decision was taken to set one reopening date for all, to offer a period of rest and recovery for our local team members in Jamaica. “

Sandals continued: “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,” SRI said in conclusion.

December 15 target date for full tourism resumption

In the meantime, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, has set a December 15 target date for Jamaica’s tourism industry to be fully operational. To deliver on that goal, the Ministry of Tourism has activated a Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and a companion Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee to synchronise public and private sector action.

“Recovery cannot be left to chance,” Bartlett said in a statement, noting, “We are aligning marketing, communications, infrastructure repairs, aid, logistics and every enabling support behind a single objective:  full industry operation by December 15. Progress will be tracked through the Ministry of Tourism with regular public updates, so workers, visitors, and partners can plan with confidence.”

The Recovery Task Force is chaired by John Byles, executive deputy chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, with the Tourism Minister serving as Chairman Emeritus. The task force comprises public and private sector leaders, including Tova Hamilton, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism; Lloyd Waller, executive director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre and Jennifer Griffith, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism. 

Also serving on the task force are Adam Stewart, executive chairman of SRI; Ian Dear, chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company; Donovan White, Director of Tourism; Jessica Shannon, Sandals’ chief experience officer; and Christopher Jarrett, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. Shannon is also chairing the Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee. The Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force will drive the operational restart of the sector, prioritising rapid assessments, product rehabilitation and service readiness across resorts, attractions, airports and cruise ports. 

The Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee will organise the giving and goodwill that accelerates recovery. It will identify, coordinate and mobilize assistance from across the tourism community.

 Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is also announcing that three of its Sandals properties in Jamaica will not reopen for guests until the end of May next year, following damage caused by Hurricane Melissa last week.

They are Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals South Coast, which won’t reopen for guests until May 30, 2026 missing out the hotels’ peak winter tourist season, the best holiday season for visitors to Jamaica. SRI joins Hyatt Inclusive Collection, which announced last week its suspension of operations at eight resort properties in Montego Bay for three months, after Jamaica was devastated by Hurricane Melissa, which left a trail of damage across mostly in south-eastern and western sections of Jamaica.