Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is pushing ahead with major renovations of its Sandals Royal Bahamian resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

The goal is to have it reopened and refreshed for the public on November 4, 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not deterred SRI expansion plans, which were very much in keeping with its founder the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart’s vision.

The Caribbean hotel group has already unveiled plans for new projects in both St Vincent and Curaçao. It has already announced renovations in Jamaica with the addition of 48 rooms at Sandals Royal Caribbean. Sandals Royal Barbados will be welcoming a new 66-suite South Seas Village wing.

There are those who reason that tourism in the Caribbean will not return to the level it was prior to the pandemic until winter 2022 and even then the all-inclusive model will be challenged by a new eco-friendly/community-based approach.

Sandals, under its new chairman Adam Stewart, begs to differ. Rather SRI will be using this time that has seen occupancy significantly reduced, to spruce up its brand and put in place upgrades.

Sandals Royal Bahamian will see 200 of its rooms and suites improved with new additions made to the venerable property. River suites will now be added as Sandals ups the ante.

Gordon “Butch” Stewart opened his first Sandals resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica forty years ago. This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary since Sandals has been operating in the Bahamas, a major tourism province of the Caribbean.

There are now three Sandals tourism properties in the Bahamas namely, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Sandals Emerald Bay (in Great Exuma) and the Fowl Cay luxe resort.

“Sandals Royal Bahamian has a storied past and played a starring role in the history of Bahamian tourism, hosting rock stars and royalty and we pledge our continued commitment to this captivating island,” Executive Chairman of Sandals, Adam Stewart.

“We honour and celebrate our partnership with this great destination, looking forward not only to reopening this fall, but to the future, which together, Sandals and the Bahamas will continue to exceed our guests’ expectations,” Stewart continued.