FORT LAUDERDALE – Jamaica will be a better place after this Hurricane Melissa; Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, told a packed crowd of travel advisors in a CruiseWorld ballroom that things could get better.
Sandals Resort Hurricane Melissa hits hardest Stewart said Thursday that reopening will “completely transition to the next level.” The three resorts – Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort and Sandals South Coast Resort – are scheduled to open on May 30, while the other five resorts on the island have been less affected Will reopen on December 6th.
Stewart urged the travel advisors in the room to continue selling Jamaica even after the hurricane.
“Tourism is the fastest transfer of wealth to these developing islands,” he said. “As we leave this meeting today, the best thing we can do is continue to sell the Caribbean, and particularly Jamaica.”
He said he chose to attend the meeting to personally and directly convey the message of Jamaica's resilience.
“My passport is a blue Jamaican passport,” Stewart said. “We love Jamaica. We love the Caribbean, and with your help, we will continue to make it bigger and better.”
Stewart said the five Sandals resorts are in good condition and almost ready to reopen, but the company will need to wait a month before reopening to ensure its employees, especially those in southwestern Jamaica, can recover from the storm.
Sandals Storm Relief Efforts
Sandals has donated $3 million So far, it has been involved in hurricane relief and has donated its company aircraft hangar for rescue operations.
When a hurricane hits, Sandals keeps customers there for free until they get home safely. Stewart said he chartered a plane for their return and brought it back to Jamaica with 150,000 pounds of relief supplies.
Gary Sadler, executive vice president of sales and industry relations for Unique Vacations, joined Stewart on stage to give away a free trip to the Caribbean.
“As Mr Stewart said, the best way to help us recover in the Caribbean is to ensure more hotel rooms are sold,” Sadler said.
