it carved a narrow but devastating ten-mile-wide path from the island’s southwest up through the Montego Bay area. Torrential rain caused flooding in several parishes, while other regions experienced minimal disruption. Many major resorts sustained some damage; at Sandals Resorts International, for example, five of the company’s seven Jamaican properties were able to resume operations relatively quickly.

 

Jamaica’s rapid recovery was no accident. It was the result of disaster-response playbooks developed in advance by the Government Recovery Task Force, close coordination across the tourism sector, private-sector partnerships, support from local communities, and bolstered by a significant U.S. government airlift. Restoration moved swiftly. Beaches were cleared, resorts reopened, attractions resumed operations, and the message to the travel marketplace was clear and consistent: Jamaica was ready to welcome visitors again.

 

 

Sandals Dunn’s River: Recovery, Resolve, and Reassurance
Sandals Resorts International and the Sandals Foundation played a central role in the island’s rebound. Their deep local knowledge and logistical reach ensured that emergency relief, cash assistance for staff, and a coordinated media campaign worked in concert to protect both livelihoods and Jamaica’s vital winter tourist season.

 

I visited as part of Sandals’ “Back to Jamaica” event at Sandals Dunn’s River to see firsthand the condition of resort infrastructure, the recovery of key tourism corridors, and the prevailing mindset of rebuilding better, aptly summed up by the theme “Stronger Than the Storm.”

 

Hurricane Melissa, while unusually powerful, caused damage largely confined to a narrow corridor. Large portions of the island, including many resort areas, escaped with little impact. Flying into Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ), I found it fully operational. The drive to Sandals Dunn’s River was free of debris, with roadways cleared and landscaping restored. Whatever damage the surrounding terrain had sustained was already repaired and carefully groomed.

 

During a town hall meeting at the resort, Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals, Beaches, and Resorts, underscored the company’s people-first approach. “Our team members are the heart of this company, and they have shown extraordinary courage, compassion, and professionalism,” Stewart said. “We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them and with the people of Jamaica until every community is back on its feet. Jamaica will be okay.”

 

The Sandals Foundation provided more than one million U.S. dollars in humanitarian grants to employees who lost their homes, as well as to community members in affected areas. Stewart also delivered a direct message to the travel trade, urging advisors to keep selling Jamaica. “We are Team Jamaica,” he said. “If your clients can’t afford Sandals, do what’s right for their pocketbook and send them to villas, small hotels, whatever works best for them. Just send them to Jamaica.”

 

 

Sandals Dunn’s River: Luxury Fully Restored
At Sandals Dunn’s River, the guest experience is once again firing on all cylinders. The resort’s long, broad stretch of fine white sand is groomed daily. Five pools, including a striking beachfront infinity pool, are fully operational, complete with swim-up bars.

 

The beachfront Skypool Suites feature private infinity pools overlooking the Caribbean, while the Rondoval Suites offer private Jacuzzis, swim-up pools, and rooftop terraces ideal for dining
under the stars.

 

For guests seeking a fully curated stay, butler service elevates the experience well before arrival. The Butler Elite Preference Form allows guests to specify preferred cuisines, dietary needs, snacks, premium liquors, activities, appointments at Red Lane Spa, pillow selections, and special occasions, ensuring a highly personalized visit from start to finish.

 

Golf enthusiasts enjoy complimentary green fees at the nearby 18-hole Upton Estate Golf & Country Club. On the water, guests have access to snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, Hobie Cats, and PADI-certified scuba diving operated from Sandals’ own fleet.

 

Dining is a standout, with 12 restaurants offering an international range that includes Japanese, Jamaican barbecue, Italian, Greek, and hearth-baked pizzas at Isola. Mornings often begin at Blum Coffee, where Jamaican coffee and freshly baked pastries set the tone for the day.

 

Evenings bring live music and dancing throughout the resort, including a popular silent disco. The live sets at Dunn’s Rum Club are not to be missed. During the day, arts-and-crafts activities include pottery making, candle making, sip-and-paint sessions, and a lively tie-dye class at the beach bar, add a creative flair. A rooftop gym, conveniently located next to a rooftop bar, offers sweeping Caribbean views that make even a workout feel indulgent.

 

 

Mystic Mountain: Adventure Above Ocho Rios
Minutes from Sandals Dunn’s River, perched high above the coastline of Ocho Rios is Mystic Mountain, it delivers one of Jamaica’s most distinctive attractions. Part adventure park, and part eco-tourism destination, it offers adrenaline-charged fun set within a lush tropical rain forest. Thick canopies, cascading vines, and constant birdsong surround visitors, with rides designed to immerse guests in nature rather than merely observe it from afar.

 

Hurricane Melissa caused minimal disruption here; a small number of fallen trees were quickly cleared from walkways and surrounding areas, and operations resumed smoothly.
The experience begins with the Sky Explorer, a chairlift that transports guests from the base station to the mountain’s 700-foot summit. The slow ascent provides panoramic views of the tropical canopy, the cruise port, and Ocho Rios spread out below like a postcard. As the lift climbs, the air cools and the rain forest closes in, creating a tranquil prelude to the thrills ahead.
At the summit, the signature attraction is the Bobsled Jamaica ride, a nod to the island’s famed Olympic bobsled team. The gravity-driven sled weaves through the forest on a twisting track, with riders controlling their speed via a handbrake. You can cruise to take in the scenery or go full throttle for a roller-coaster-like rush. It’s brief but memorable, blending speed, nostalgia, and a surprising sense of freedom.

 

For even more excitement, the Ragga Ride (also called the Raggamuffin) delivers a different kind of thrill. This suspended rail coaster glides high above the forest floor, swinging through the canopy with sweeping turns and sudden ocean views before plunging back into dense greenery.

 

The zip line course offers a gentler but equally engaging adventure. Gliding from platform to platform and crossing sky bridges, visitors experience the forest up close, guided by knowledgeable staff who keep things safe and approachable, even for first-timers.

 

Balancing the action are quieter features, including an infinity pool and waterslide overlooking the Caribbean Sea, a small butterfly and hummingbird sanctuary highlighting Jamaica’s biodiversity, and a museum with bobsled memorabilia and interactive exhibits celebrating Jamaican sports culture. The gift shop offers sun hats, cover-ups, and souvenirs adorned with reggae and Jamaican motifs.

 

Mystic Mountain’s attractions are in good repair without signs of damage and well maintained, thrilling without being intimidating and remains one of the most enjoyable excursions for your clients staying in the Ocho Rios area.

 

 

What’s Next for Jamaica
Looking ahead, Jamaica’s recovery is also about reinvention. At a media briefing in New York, Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Edmund Bartlett emphasized that the island is not simply rebuilding, but improving. Among upcoming projects are the restoration of Black River’s historic Georgian architecture, expanded Black River Safari and ecological experiences, and the highly anticipated five-star UNICO Hotel in Montego Bay. The 450-room upscale resort is slated to open in 2026.

 

The message from government and industry alike is unified and confident: Jamaica is back, resilient, welcoming, and stronger than the storm.
For more information visit: www.visitjamaica.com

 

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Jamaica is Well on the Way to Recovery from Hurricane Melissa, Officials Say
By Bob Curley

Close to three-quarters of Jamaica’s hotels are expected to be reopened by Dec. 31 as the island continues its recovery from Hurricane Melissa, tourism officials say. As of mid-December, more than 85 hotels and resorts had reopened.

 

 

Montego Bay, hardest hit by October’s Category 5 hurricane, has been slower to recover. For example, Hyatt expects the majority of its Mobay area resorts — Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa, Dreams Rose Hall Resort & Spa, Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Secrets St. James Montego Bay, Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, an the Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa — to remain closed until Nov. 1, 2026. The iconic Half Moon resort won’t reopen until Feb. 1, 2026, and Sandals’ Royal Caribbean and Montego Bay locations will remain closed until May 30, 2026.

 

 

However, most properties in Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Kingston and Negril are up and running, according to a Jamaica tourism spokesperson.“Ocho Rios is the resort area that is most complete in its readiness for both ends of the tourism spectrum — cruise as well as stopovers,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. One exception is the Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway resort, which is closed indefinitely.

 

 

Every resort hotel in Port Antonio and Kingston is now open. In Negril, most major hotels other than the Princess Grand Jamaica (reopening March 1, 2026) and Princess Senses The Mangrove (reopening Feb. 1, 2026) are operational.

 

 

Like Ocho Rios, the south coast of Jamaica was hit particularly hard by Hurricane Melissa. Although it’s not as prominent a tourist destination, this region includes several noteworthy resorts, including Sandals South Coast (closed until May 30, 2026) and Jake’s Hotel (reopened on Dec. 18).

 

 

Approximately 71 percent of Jamaican hotels will be open by the end of December; by the end of January 2026, 80 percent of hotels should be open, and the rest by March, officials said — most in time for the island’s tourism high season.

 

 

Jamaican tourism officials have been emphasizing that the best way to support the nation’s hurricane recovery is for tourists to continue to visit the island. Tourism accounts for over 30 percent of Jamaica’s GDP, and accounts for about one in three jobs across the island.

 

 

The message seems to have gotten through: since the island reopened shortly after the hurricane passed in late October, an estimated 300,000 people have visited Jamaica, Bartlett said. Of those, about 30,000 were cruise passengers. The numbers reflect the fact that the country’s three major international airports—Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston, and Ian Fleming International Airport (IFIA) near Ocho Rios — are fully operational, as are Jamaica’s four major cruise ports: Port Royal/Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Falmouth—are fully operational.

 

 

“Our recovery has exceeded expectations,” said Bartlett. “Jamaica is not just back—we are stronger, more resilient, and more committed than ever to delivering the authentic Jamaican experience our visitors know and love. The dedication of our tourism workers, many of whom were personally affected by the hurricane, exemplifies the true spirit of Jamaica.”

 

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Resilience, Readiness, Return: Sandals Resorts Welcomes Travel Advisors Back to Jamaica

 

In a powerful show of unity, Sandals Resorts International (SRI) welcomed nearly 400 travel advisors and industry partners to its home country for a special “Back to Jamaica” immersion event at Sandals Dunn’s River this week. The immersive 4-day experience, the first large-scale industry gathering on the island since Hurricane Melissa, was designed around a single, powerful purpose: to show, not tell, that Jamaica is ready to welcome travelers back.

 

Bringing the island’s unmistakable energy, beauty, and resilience vividly to life, the event served as a reaffirmation of Jamaica’s resilience and its readiness ahead of the December 6 reopening of Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Ocho Rios and Negril.

 

“Seeing is believing,” said SRI Executive Chairman Adam Stewart at the cornerstone business session held today. “Much of Jamaica was largely unaffected, and it is important that you come and see it. Of course I can stand on a stage and say Jamaica is ready, but when you walk the roads, meet the people, visit the attractions, and feel the spirit of this island for yourself — you know it. Jamaica has never looked more beautiful, and the gratitude of our people has never been stronger,” Stewart told an enthusiastic audience.

 

Echoing Donovan White, Director of Tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board, that it had only been 38 days since the storm, Stewart reinforced that Jamaica’s recovery is both ongoing and deeply collaborative, crediting the tireless work of communities, team members, government partners, and international allies.

 

White thanked Sandals Resorts International and its partners for their continued collaboration and underscored strong forward demand and the importance of getting the message out that Jamaica is open. He emphasized that while a narrow corridor of the island sustained notable damage, “the vast majority of Jamaica is open, vibrant and eager to welcome visitors.”

 

 

Travel Advisors: “The Single Strongest Force for Recovery”
Gary C. Sadler, Executive Vice President of Sales & Industry Relations at Unique Vacations Inc., emphasized how travel advisors are central to Sandals’ success, and their participation is crucial to restoring confidence in travelers considering Jamaica. “Travel advisors play an essential role in telling Jamaica’s story,” said Sadler. “Bringing you here created a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with the island you love. This is your customer and our guest; together, we share the responsibility of caring for them, reassuring them and inspiring them to come back to Jamaica.”

 

Zane Kerby, President & CEO of ASTA, praised the spirit and composure of Jamaicans in the wake of the storm, noting that the warmth and optimism on display was “one of Jamaica’s greatest strengths.” He also underscored the crucial contribution of advisors in balancing negative imagery. “Your role as demand creators has never been more important,” Kerby told the audience. “Every itinerary you build, every honeymoon or family reunion you plan, sends economic lifelines rippling throughout Jamaica. Travel restores jobs, rebuilds communities, and accelerates recovery faster than anything else. Keep telling Jamaica’s story.”

 

 

A Unified Tourism Ecosystem
The program brought together Jamaica’s public and private sector leaders. In addition to Director White, Jeremy Jones, SRI Managing Director for Jamaica, detailed ongoing investments in the destination, crediting Sandals’ success to careful preparation. “Preparing properly is how you recover faster,” Jones said. Shane Munroe, CEO of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, recounted the extraordinary efforts to reopen the airport that welcomes 70% of all visitors to Jamaica and acknowledged the support of Sandals Resorts.

 

Travel advisors explored the island through Island Routes excursions and visits to open attractions, including Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, Yaaman Adventure Park, championship golf, luxury catamaran cruises and more, reinforcing that Jamaica’s tourism ecosystem is very much alive.

 

“Tourism doesn’t work unless the entire ecosystem comes back together,” Stewart said. “From taxi drivers and tour operators to craft vendors and restaurateurs — they’ve opened their doors for you and are ready to welcome your return.”

 

Sandals Foundation Executive Director Heidi Clarke received a standing ovation for her work leading relief efforts in Jamaica’s hardest hit communities. Her goal now, said Clarke, was to get schools back open quickly, and return children to “normalcy, learning, hot meals and love.” In one of the afternoon’s most moving moments, local schoolchildren whose voices and energy brought the room to its feet, serenaded the audience, concluding with a tear-jerking rendition of One Love — a vivid reminder of why recovery matters.

 

 

Jamaica Is Ready
A celebratory beach party, infused with the music, flavors and unmistakable joy of Jamaica, brought the event to an uplifting close, a fitting end to a gathering that symbolized not just recovery, but renewal.

 

“There is no storm that will stop Jamaica,” said Stewart. “The spirit of our people, the warmth of our welcome, the beauty of this island — none of that was washed away. To every travel advisor here: go home and tell the world what you saw. Tell them Jamaica is ready, and we cannot wait to welcome them back.” For more information visit: www.sandals.com