Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica-based regional hotel chain Sandals Resorts International has reached a US$375 million agreement with the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to construct the first Beaches brand resort.

The property is being built on mainland St Vincent with completion set for the end of 2027. Sandals’ SVG resort, located on Buccament Bay, was opened in March 2024. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, in making the announcement, disclosed that the agreement will be signed next month.

This will pave the way for the development of the latest Sandals resort to move forward under the Beaches brand. It will be a 375-room facility with the latest resort amenities, adding to the growing list of hotel groups showing interest in SCG. 

In fact, the St Vincent Times is reporting that reliable sources have told the media outlet that several other hotel developments are in the pipeline and will be announced soon. Speculation about the new Sandals development emerged earlier in February after a social media post by Finance Minister Camilo Gonsalves featured a photograph of himself alongside Sandals Resorts regional project manager, Terence Des Vignes.

The photo was apparently taken at the location of the unfinished Black Sands Resort.

On Sunday (July 27), Prime Minister Gonsalves said, “Once everything proceeds as planned, it should be open by the end of 2027. Because it’s Beaches, a family-oriented brand, you’re going to need four employees per key. With 375 keys – some rooms being two bedrooms or larger – that’s 1,500 permanent workers needed.”

Gonsalves added that with Marriott and Beaches on the Leeward side of the island, 2,000 additional jobs would be added to the workforce.