Sandals Resorts International revealed this week a first look at the dining concepts, accommodations and guest experiences coming to three of its Jamaica properties as part of a US$200 million overhaul, the latest sign of momentum in the Caribbean all-inclusive segment.
The transformation spans Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast and the resort formerly known as Sandals Royal Caribbean, which will reopen under a new name: Sandals Caribbean Cay. The properties are part of what the company is calling Sandals 2.0, and the investments reinforce the brand’s commitment to the island where it was founded more than four decades ago.
The news arrives during an active week for all-inclusive development in the region. Club Med announced this week that it will return to the U.S. market for the first time in years through the acquisition and redevelopment of the Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix, in partnership with VICI Properties. Construction on that project is expected to begin in summer 2026, with a targeted reopening in the fourth quarter of 2027. Together, the two announcements point to renewed investor and operator confidence in Caribbean all-inclusive travel.
Sandals Resorts
(Sandals Resorts)
For Sandals, the flagship Sandals Montego Bay will lead the rollout, returning December 18, 2026. More than 40 years after it opened, the 255-room resort is entering what the company describes as a bold new era while honoring its legacy. A redesigned main pool will anchor the property as its social center, complemented by new swim-up accommodations and ocean-view suites. The Caribbean’s first-ever swim-up bar remains a centerpiece as part of the new Parisol Beach Club, where original bricks carved with decades of guest names have been preserved as a tribute to the resort’s history.
Dining additions at Montego Bay include the guest-favorite Buccan in its first waterfront setting in Jamaica, serving island dishes cooked over an open flame, along with Jamaica’s first Scrimshaw seafood restaurant. Guests will also find Bay Roc Rum Club, a rum experience inspired by the property’s origins as the Bay Roc Hotel & Villas.
Sandals Royal Caribbean will reopen the same day, December 18, 2026, as Sandals Caribbean Cay, a new identity inspired by its offshore island experience. The resort is adding 84 new rooms to bring its total to 291, with new categories including SkyPool Suites, Swim-up Suites and, beginning next June, Oceanview Butler Suites. Leading the culinary refresh is Suppa, a supper-style restaurant built around the tradition of Sunday dinner, alongside the Keynote Rum Bar and the grab-and-go Heart & Sol. Updates extend to the resort’s private island, Sandals Cay, where a new Parisol Beach Club is accessible exclusively by boat.
Sandals Resorts
(Sandals Resorts)
Sandals South Coast will return first, on November 18, 2026. Set within a 500-acre nature preserve, the 380-room resort is enhancing its pool experience and drawing design inspiration from its resident roaming peacocks. Its Overwater Butler Villas return with refreshed interiors, joined by the brand’s first-ever Beachfront Club Two Queen Junior Suites aimed at groups traveling together. New dining includes BLŪM, serving Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee and light bites, and Butch’s Island Chop House, making its south coast debut with a dedicated martini bar. A new rum bar is also planned, which would become the fourth in the resort’s collection.
“Jamaica is at the heart of the Sandals story, and these investments reflect our commitment to its future,” Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts, said in a statement. “For us, dreaming bigger wasn’t about adding more. It was about creating a Sandals 2.0 experience that also feels connected to our home. Every decision and detail was shaped by that idea. From new cuisines rooted in Jamaica’s traditions to spaces designed to reflect the island’s natural beauty, this next chapter is about building on that legacy and continuing to move the guest experience forward in a way that is not only elevated but evolved.”
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