Sandals to Spend $500 Million in Regional Expansion
Sandals to Spend $500 Million in Regional Expansion
By Alesia Edwards
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) says it will spend $500 million to expand its brand and in the process revolutionize tourism in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
SRI Chief Executive Officer Adam Stewart unveiled some of the planned initiatives which will unfold over the next seven to eight years across the Caribbean, and will include the construction of new resorts.
"The Sandals City resort is very much under development," Stewart said of the previously announced 250-luxury-room resort that is to be built on approximately five acres of land along Oxford Road in Kingston. Plans are also far advanced for the construction of a new off-shore village that is being built at Sandals Grande St Lucian, in the eastern Caribbean island, for which ground was broken last week. Some 150 luxury suites, including the company's signature over-the- water suites accommodation, are to be constructed.
Stewart's announcement comes as the Sandals Group, which includes Appliance Traders and the Jamaica Observer, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. He said 30 luxury suites would be built to represent every year that the company had been in business.
The Sandals CEO noted that the luxurious over-the-water-suites would, among other amenities, feature glass floors, and would be another first for Sandals and tourism in the Caribbean; as that type of accommodation had never been done in the region.
Stewart said that throughout Sandals' 30-year journey, many changes had been implemented to ensure it remained on top, and that accommodations like the over-the-water-suites and other expansion would further cement Sandals' position as leaders in the industry.
Other plans, the CEO said, include the expansion of the Beaches brand with the construction of a 400-room resort at Whitehouse in Westmoreland, 100 private luxury suites at Beaches Negril and a 400-room resort at Bloody Bay in Negril. He said designs were also being done for Beaches properties in St Lucia and Antigua.
Stewart also spoke about the Dragon Bay development in Portland which he said was very significant, as it would be a high-end development. But he pointed out that it was unlikely to come to fruition before an aerodrome was built in the parish.
Another of the company's plans includes an off-shore island at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, where several over-the-water suites are also to be constructed. Stewart said while the Jamaican Government was yet to give its final approval, he was optimistic that the new innovation would soon become a reality.
Meanwhile, chairman and founder of Sandals Resorts, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart said that for 17 consecutive years his hotel chain had been ranked as the world's best all-inclusive hotels and commended his over 10,000-strong team members for their continued commitment to the company.
The Sandals brand and its products were highlighted Saturday night with several top-notch video presentations showcasing the different experiences including accommodation, food, entertainment, bars and nightlife, weddings, land and water activities and kids' programs, among others.
