Jamaica Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett greets staff during the Royalton Negril’s reopening (Source: Jamaica Tourist Board)
WHY IT RATES: Royal Negril’s reopening represents a considerable step forward in Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa, helping the destination recover 573 rooms in its hotel inventory. Sweetening the pot, the Royalton Blue Waters and Royal Hideaway Blue Waters are scheduled to reopen on Sept. 15, adding another 1,200 rooms back into operation.—Claudette Covey, Executive Retail Editor
The August 25th reopening of Royalton Negril marks another significant milestone in Jamaica’s tourism recovery. 960 workers return to employment as the resort resumes operations following an extensive post-Hurricane Melissa restoration and refresh. This represents 573 rooms within the sector’s room stock. The hotel chain is also set to reopen Royalton Blue Waters and Royalton Hideaway Blue Waters on September 15 which will represent another 578 rooms with 1200 additional staff members back to work.
“The return of Royalton Negril strengthens the recovery of Jamaica’s vital tourism sector while restoring hundreds of livelihoods and renewing economic activity across Negril and surrounding communities. The reopening comes as hotels across the island continue to return to service, with additional properties scheduled to reopen in the months ahead and reinforces our resilience,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.
Royalton Negril’s return is part of a phased recovery strategy focused on safely restoring hotel capacity, bringing tourism workers back to their jobs and rebuilding visitor confidence. 80,000 hotel workers within Jamaica’s tourism sector have already returned work, while approximately 5,648 hotel rooms were scheduled to return to inventory through 2026.
“This demonstrates what is possible when the public and private sectors, tourism partners and communities work together toward recovery. It means real income and a return to the livelihoods or our most treasured asset – our people. It means visitor spending and supporting businesses and communities throughout the tourism value chain—from transportation and attractions to agriculture, entertainment and small and medium-sized enterprises,” added Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.
Jamaica’s wider hotel sector is also continuing its phased recovery. Among the properties scheduled to return later this year are Sea Garden Hotel, Zoetry Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast and Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean.
“These reopenings are expected to progressively restore room capacity and provide more for us to market globally. It is a significant move that will support our value proposition to attract more visitors,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.
Royalton’s restoration program has also focused on preparing its properties for a strong return, with investments in infrastructure, accommodations and guest experiences. For the 960 employees that just returned, it represents the most immediate and tangible measure of recovery: a return to work, renewed income and the opportunity to once again showcase the island’s world class hospitality. As Jamaica continues to rebuild its tourism capacity, the reopening of Royalton Negril provides a powerful signal of renewed confidence in the destination and the resilience of its tourism workforce.
SOURCE: Jamaica Tourist Board press release.
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