Sandals Resorts International revealed more of its plans for its three new resorts in Jamaica, first announced in late April.
Sandals will transform two Ocho Rios properties acquired last year, plus a prime parcel of beachfront land, into three distinct resorts.
The first phase of the $230 million project will include the reopening of Sandals Dunn's River, which previously was part of the Sandals brand; it has been operating as the Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa. It is targeted to reopen in the fourth quarter of 2022.
It will offer 260 rooms, including 48 signature SkyPool Suites, a first for Jamaica; a private cantilevered solar-heated plunge pool with an infinity edge; and 12 swim-up Rondaval Suites. Ten restaurants are planned, including a specialty rum bar inside the brand's newest Latin fusion restaurant concept called Azura. And there will be nine bars, seven pools, two river pools and a Red Lane Spa.
Sandals Dunn's River will be followed by the transformation of the adjacent oceanfront land into Sandals Royal Dunn's River in phase two, according to executive chairman Adam Stewart, who presided over a groundbreaking ceremony in Ocho Rios on May 26.
The completion timeline for Sandals Royal Dunn's River with 250 rooms and suites is 2023.
The two all-inclusive hotels will operate in much the same manner as Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados, with exchange privileges between the two.
Sandals also plans a $250 million renovation of the former Jewel Runaway Bay Beach Resort into Beaches Runaway Bay Resort, which will be the third Beaches resort in Jamaica. When completed, the resort will offer 400 suites ranging from one to four bedrooms in size, designed with extended families in mind.
Guests will have access to the 18-hole Runaway Bay Golf Club.
"Sandals has been one of the key players in Jamaica's tourism sector for many years, and we are pleased they will be expanding their presence in the destination," said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's minister of tourism.
Other projects in the pipeline include another Beaches, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as Sandals Curacao, slated to debut in 2022.