White sand beaches, turquoise waters, palm tree-lined shores and overwater bungalows just offshore – these elements are familiar throughout Jamaica’s resort coastline, whether you arrive in Montego Bay or head further along the island’s southern edge. While the settings of Sandals’ three oldest hotels remain the same, the resorts themselves are being reborn.
Now, three of those destinations are getting a makeover, Caribbean Journal has learned.
Sandals Resorts International announced a $200 million investment to reimagine Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals South Coast.The coordinated changes go far beyond repair work following Hurricane Melissa. These efforts are part of the company’s development. Sandals 2.0 VisionThe reopening schedule is set for: Nov 18, 2026 for sandals south coast. and Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean both December 18, 2026.
How closure is reset
Following Hurricane Melissa last fall, Sandals temporarily closed three Jamaican locations and reopened five in December. What started as a standard evaluation process quickly expanded.
The team toured several buildings assessing their structural condition, but the extended closure created unusual times. It was a time with no guests, no phased construction, and no need to preserve partial operations.
Adam Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, described the moment as a rare departure from the typical pace of hospitality.
“While the doors were closed, we were given a true blank canvas that few people have in hospitality,” said Stewart, explaining how the company approached real estate differently once schedules opened up. “We spent time walking around the property, talking to the team and thinking about our guests.”
At some point, the direction changed.
“It became clear that we couldn’t simply restore what was there,” he said. “We must dream bigger.”
The result is not a reopening but a complete reconstruction.
Three attributes, three distinct identities.
Each of the three resorts has a different relationship with its surroundings, and these differences determine how they approach the rebuild.
sandals montego bay It remains the brand’s original flagship, located just minutes from the airport along one of the island’s most accessible beaches. Arrival is immediate: plane, car, check-in, sand. The hotel has long been defined by its proximity and familiarity, often serving as the first stop in Jamaica.
near, sandals royal caribbean Introducing layered experiences. The main resort is located along Mahoe Bay, and a short boat ride takes you to a private offshore island with overwater bungalows and a quieter stretch of beach. Movement between the two creates a change of pace during your stay.
further west and south, sandals south coast It completely occupies another part of the island. The drive passes villages and open countryside before reaching a long, uninterrupted stretch of white sand beach. There is less surrounding development and more distance is established between the resort and the rest of the island.
By reworking all three simultaneously, Sandals can reexamine how each property functions within its broader portfolio, from arrival patterns to daily guest flow.
What’s changing across the resort
The company outlined comprehensive changes that address almost every aspect of the customer experience.
The arrivals area is being rebuilt to change the way guests first encounter each property, featuring new vantage points facing the Caribbean Sea. These spaces often define the first moments of a stay, and the goal of a redesign is to change that sequence.
Accommodations will expand into new categories, reflecting the brand’s recent additions across its other resorts. These include updated suite concepts, private pool options and more room configurations.
Pools are being redesigned at all three properties, adjusting both layout and use. Central assembly areas, quiet edges and swim-up access points are being reviewed together, rather than in stages.
Lounges and social areas, including a bar, terrace and shaded seating areas, are also being rebuilt. These areas tend to evolve slowly over time, and their closure can lead to a complete reset of how they are deployed and used.
Meals are also expanded. Sandals has confirmed new restaurant concepts and bar experiences across each of its resorts and is continuing its extensive efforts to deepen culinary diversity across its portfolio.
Keep your guests aware
Despite the scale of change, the company has emphasized continuity.
The coastline remains intact. Access roads, sea orientation and the basic topography of each property are all maintained.
The focus is on updating how the resort is experienced without removing the elements that have defined the resort for returning guests.
Stewart made that balance the center of the project.
“When we welcome guests back, they will see a change,” he said, pointing to the physical changes throughout the property. “And they will feel exactly why we have chosen to use this moment to create something worthy of their loyalty.”
The distinction between what’s visible and what’s ahead will shape how new versions of these resorts are received.
Staggered market return
Reopening schedules reflect both operational plans and seasonal timing.
Sandals South Coast will be the first to return on November 18, 2026.Restore access to one of Jamaica’s more remote all-inclusive settings ahead of the winter travel period.
One month later, December 18, 2026both Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean They are set to reopen together at the start of peak travel season, reintroducing two of the island’s best-known resort names.
Adjusting the opening spacing allows the company to focus on each launch individually to meet demand.
Jamaica’s wider resort landscape continues
While these three hotels remain closed, Sandals’ other Jamaican resorts remain open.
Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Duns River (the first resort to reopen after the storm), Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril. All welcome guests and maintain a presence for the brand in different parts of the island.
This continuity ensures travelers can plan their Jamaican stay within the Sandals portfolio during the rebuild, with options covering Ocho Rios, Negril and beyond.
It also keeps tourism flows steady while Montego Bay and the South Coast region undergo reconstruction.
A rare moment in resort development
Large hotel projects are often constrained by ongoing operations. Renovations are carried out area by area, and work is carefully planned out in time for guest arrivals.
This situation created different conditions.
Three resorts closed simultaneously, with the ability to rethink layout, infrastructure and guest flow without disruption.
Stewart described this as a critical element of the project scope.
“The opportunity to fully focus on three resorts at this scale and completely reimagine them without compromising the guest experience is very rare,” he said.
The combination of time, access, and scale allowed Sandals to move beyond incremental updates to coordinated rebuilds.
What guests will discover in 2026
When the doors reopen, the location will still be familiar. Same coastline, same approach from road to lobby to beach.
What changes is the feeling of each step.
Arrival space may vary. Room categories are expanded. The layout and use of swimming pools, restaurants and gathering areas will change.
Returning guests will know where they are. Details on how to navigate through each property are new.
Rebuilt in one fell swoop, the three resorts are each attached to a different part of Jamaica’s coastline, a reset that will define how Sandals will present the island for years to come, making it better than ever.
