- Strategic recovery of the tourism sector following the catastrophic impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in 2025.
- Variable reopening timelines for major brands with some resorts already operational while others are scheduled for late 2026.
- Full resumption of international airlift ensuring that the island remains accessible for global travelers during the restoration period.
- Geographic distribution of progress across key tourist hubs including Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios.
Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late October 2025, Jamaica is executing a significant recovery of its tourism sector. As the strongest storm to ever hit the island nation, the hurricane caused extensive damage to infrastructure and communities. However, by February 2026, tourism leaders and hotel partners have confirmed that the island is open to visitors, with airlift fully resumed and many major resorts returning to service. While the recovery has been steady, reopening timelines vary significantly across different hotel brands and regions.
Several major resort chains have already successfully reopened their doors. Sandals has restored operations at its Dunn’s River, Royal Plantation, Ochi, and Negril properties, as well as Beaches Negril. Similarly, RIU Hotels & Resorts and Iberostar have many functional properties, with several locations in Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios already welcoming guests. Other established brands, such as Couples Resorts and Azul Beach Resort Negril, achieved reopening milestones as early as December 2025.
For many other luxury and all-inclusive brands, the restoration process will continue throughout 2026. Sandals plans to reopen its Montego Bay, Royal Caribbean, and South Coast locations in late May. The Hyatt Inclusive Collection, including popular brands like Secrets, Dreams, and Breathless, has scheduled most of its grand reopenings for November 1, 2026, though Zoetry Montego Bay is set for an earlier return in March. Princess Resorts is also re-entering the market with openings in February and March. Travelers and travel advisors are encouraged to monitor these specific timelines closely, as some properties are utilizing the closure period to conduct extensive upgrades alongside necessary repairs. This tiered reopening strategy ensures that Jamaica’s room inventory continues to rebound while maintaining high standards of quality for arriving tourists.