Jamaica’s tourism recovery continues as the Royalton Negril resort reopened on Aug. 25, marking another significant milestone for the island’s vital hospitality sector. The resort’s return brings 960 workers back to employment and restores 573 rooms to the sector’s inventory following an extensive restoration effort following Hurricane Melissa.
Donovan White, Director of Tourism, said these openings are expected to progressively restore room capacity and provide more inventory for global marketing efforts. The strategy aims to support the destination’s value proposition to attract more visitors. Among the properties scheduled to return later this year are Sea Garden Hotel, Zoetry Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast, Sandals Montego Bay, and Sandals Royal Caribbean.
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, emphasized the human impact of the reopening. He said the return of Royalton Negril strengthens the recovery of Jamaica’s tourism sector while restoring hundreds of livelihoods and renewing economic activity across Negril and surrounding communities. The reopening reinforces the resilience of the tourism workforce and provides a powerful signal of renewed confidence in the destination.
Restoration efforts have focused on preparing properties for a strong return through investments in infrastructure, accommodations, and guest experiences. For the 960 employees that just returned, the reopening 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. 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 of our most treasured asset—our people. It also 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.
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Officials noted that approximately 5,648 hotel rooms were scheduled to return to inventory through 2026. The phased recovery strategy focuses on safely restoring hotel capacity, bringing tourism workers back to their jobs, and rebuilding visitor confidence.
The Royalton chain plans to open two more locations by September 15. Officials noted that Royalton Blue Waters and Royalton Hideaway Blue Waters will reopen simultaneously, adding another 578 rooms and 1,200 staff members to the workforce. This expansion brings the total number of hotel workers returning to work across the island to 80,000.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, greets workers at Royalton Negril on the property’s reopening on Aug. 25.