Jamaica's hospitality sector is facing an uneven recovery following Hurricane Melissa, with some resorts already welcoming back guests while others in harder-hit regions face lengthy reopening timelines.
Properties in the Montego Bay area were hit much harder by the hurricane's Oct. 28 landfall than those in Ocho Rios and Negril.
"Jamaica is a large and diverse island, and each region has experienced the storm differently," said Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, which has eight resorts across the island.
Five of the group's resorts in Negril and Ocho Rios will reopen Dec. 6: the Sandals Dunn's River, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril. Sandals said that some of those resorts could theoretically open sooner — Stewart said the Ocho Rios properties were "largely unaffected by the most severe impacts" — but that the company set the December date "to offer a period of rest and recovery for our local team members in Jamaica."
That wasn't the case for the company's properties in Montego Bay and White House. The Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals South Coast resorts won't reopen until May 30.
Likewise, Hyatt's Inclusive Collection has suspended operations and new bookings at its eight Montego Bay-area properties through January, including the Breathless Montego Bay, Dreams Rose Hall, Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Secrets St. James Montego Bay, Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, Jewel Grande Montego Bay and Zoetry Montego Bay Jamaica.
As of Oct. 31, Hyatt said it was conducting detailed assessments to determine the extent of physical damage.
Salamander Collection's Half Moon resort, also in Montego Bay, aims to reopen Dec. 15, citing impacts to local infrastructure as a factor in its timeline. The property added that it plans a phased reopening, initially welcoming guests to its Eclipse at Half Moon and Villas at Half Moon accommodations.
Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Montego Bay set a Dec. 8 reopening. The luxury resort added that it hopes to open sooner. Round Hill said that although it remains "fully intact," impact to local infrastructure has affected its ability to reopen.
The Palace Company's Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios was among the resorts that reported no significant impact; guests were able to return to their rooms and access the property's facilities, pool and beach the day after the hurricane. The resort is currently welcoming guests, although a Moon Palace Jamaica spokesperson said there are limited commercial flights available. Roads in the Ocho Rios area are accessible.
"We are now assisting other properties that are sending their reservations to us, because unfortunately they were affected, most of them in the Montego Bay area," said Daniel Adolfo Conte, vice president of commercial relations at the Palace Company.
Couples Resorts, which operates four properties in Ocho Rios and Negril, also reported minimal impact but delayed reopening until Dec. 1 while the island undergoes a full assessment.
All Island Outpost properties — GoldenEye, Strawberry Hill and The Caves — are open and are fully operational. GoldenEye, located on the island's eastern end along Oracabessa Bay, had announced a Nov. 6 reopening date.
Task force to aid comeback
In support of the islandwide recovery effort, Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism has activated a Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force, with minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett setting a Dec. 15 target date for Jamaica's tourism industry to be fully operational.
Among those appointed to serve on the task force is Sandals' Stewart, who emphasized that returning visitors will play a key role in Jamaica's comeback.
"Tourism is a vital part of Jamaica's national recovery, and guests can feel confident that the best way to support the region is by visiting and returning to the island they love," Stewart said.
The late-October timing of Hurricane Melissa adds to the island's challenges, as many closures are expected to stretch over the crucial holiday season.
"That's peak season, and they're losing out on it," said Michael Cummings, CBRE's managing director for valuation and advisory services. "It's going to be a while before Jamaica recovers."
Cummings added that immediate humanitarian needs will continue to take precedence over resort operations.
"How can you expect somebody to come back and work your resort when they don't have a home?" he said.
Updates: Couples Resorts has pushed back its reopening date to Dec. 1 from Nov. 15, as originally reported. This report was updated Nov. 21 to note that all Island Outpost properties on the island are open and are fully operational.