As the new moon rose in the skies over Ocho Rios, Jamaica, over the weekend of May 19th, the Sandals Resorts family celebrated a cosmic reset and new direction with grand celebration and legendary style. Sandals Resorts Unveils Newest Resortthe all-new Sandals Dunn’s River.
Photo: An aerial view of the beachfront at Sandals Dunn’s River, designed with innovation, adventure and luxury in mind.
In attendance were Caribbean leaders, dignitaries and some of Jamaica’s most famous performers. New resort welcomes first guests to honour legends of the past.With an eye on the future of tourism in Jamaica, the A-list guest list included Grammy Award-winning artist Shaggy, The Voice winner Tessayn Chin and the famous cast of Stomp, fresh off a Broadway run. Sandals’ Newest ResortIt is a memento of a dream that took 30 years to come true.
Thirty years ago, our founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, personally chose the sacred site of Sandals Dunn’s River, once the site of the iconic Arawak Hotel, and thus the new resort stands as a symbol of legend and tradition. Dedication to the Golden Age of Jamaican TourismStewart, who grew up on the sandy beaches of Jamaica, has left his mark on every corner of the new resort, his final project, which he worked on in collaboration with his son, the current chairman of Sandals. Adam Stewart.
Pictured: Sandals founder Gordon “Batch” Stewart.
With this hallowed history in mind, the grand opening celebration paid tribute to the late founder, Gordon Stewart, a hospitality giant who made his mark in life while working as a fishmonger at the local resort of Ocho Rios. His story, the story of Sandals, has become legendary.and we were there to celebrate it.
Photo: Miss T’s Kitchen, a local restaurant in Ocho Rios serving authentic Jamaican cuisine.
Caribbean Prime Ministers, Sandals executives and The honored guests were greeted with special cocktails.we sipped on a Jamaica Sorel Royale, a sparkling version of the traditional Jamaican rum punch. Between sips, we sampled tasty snacks from the resort’s new restaurant concept, including macaroons made with locally sourced chocolate and precious Blue Mountain coffee.
Photo: Sandals Dunn’s River is taking coffee to a new level with BLUM, a coffee shop inspired by Jamaica’s Blue Mountains.
Guests mingled to the melodies of a 40-piece choir from the University of the West Indies, Edna Manley College and Ash Company. Some of Jamaica’s most talented performers and most awe-inspiring voices belted out a lengthy and emotional tribute to Stewart, telling the story of a life well-lived, dreams realized and A legacy that will never be forgotten.
The music and magic didn’t stop there: guests continued to dance to the sounds of a steel drum band after the sun went down and marveled at state-of-the-art video mapping. Iconic Dunn’s River FallsThe celebration didn’t just stop at the stage: above the horizon, aerial ribbon dancers gracefully scaled the façade of the resort’s new building, and entertainers performed in the pool floating on original bamboo rafts custom-made by Jamaican artisans. This legendary celebration unfolded in the heights of the sky and the depths of the ocean.
The thrilling artistry culminated with performances from world-renowned entertainers, starting with a cast of soul-stirring stompers who brought the pulse of Jamaica to the new grounds of Sandals Dunn’s River. The crowd cheered on the edge of their seats and on their toes as they welcomed the ever-iconic Mr. Boombastic, Shaggy. The “King of Reggae” and the pride of Jamaica, Shaggy… Shaggy performed his hits from “It Wasn’t Me” to “In The Summertime” and encouraged the audience to sing along. The presence of these performers means much more than just entertainment for the evening party: these artists, along with some of the most esteemed Caribbean dignitaries, embody the spirit of the island that Sandals Dunn’s River now calls home, and their involvement is a testament to the authenticity and heart that has been so thoughtfully infused into the culture of this new resort.
The performance ended with a bang and an impressive A massive fireworks display that lights up the entire sky over Ocho RiosStill, the celebrations continued late into the night with lunar afterparties and beach parties held under the light of the new moon.
Photo credit: Andrea Raffin/Shutterstock.com
Even the best parties come to an end. The excitement is fleeting, the drinks are gone, the performers are off. The stage is cleared, the new moon is full, The reason to celebrate never fadesIn the shadow of the opening of Sandals Dunn’s River, all we have left are memories. Of course, what remains is the excellence, tradition and promise of the all-new Sandals Dunn’s River.
Resort, The 17th in the Sandals Resorts familyBut we await our honored guests, where the future promises new memories, great parties, romantic moments, sweet greetings and bittersweet farewells.
Whether it’s your first visit to Sandals Dunn’s River or your 17th, there’s something new waiting for you. If you think you’ve seen it all, you still haven’t. At Sandals Dunn’s River, Jamaican roots permeate every touchpointEvery corner of the resort reflects the region’s lush forests and majestic banyan trees. The resort is sourced directly from the Dunn’s River Falls Nature PreserveIt’s all here, from a lobby waterfall to Red Lane Spa’s cascading pool, the largest swimming pool in Jamaica. The all-new Tufa Skypool Butler Suite is Jamaica’s first cantilevered suite, with glass panels running the full length of its ocean-facing balcony. The guest-favourite Coyaba Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suite has been redesigned with an expansive open-air rooftop surrounded by the island’s lush flora.
Photo: Coyaba Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suites come with private pools and rooftop retreats.
To the Sandals Resorts family, to the people of Jamaica and to you, Sandals Dunn’s River is a legendary gift from the great hotelier who started it all, and just as he expected, the resort offers a whole new experience of the island, his hometown. To find out more about the new Sandals Dunn’s River from the great minds who built it, tune into our latest PalmCast episode. “Legendary Welcome: Executive Chairman Adam Stewart Introduces Sandals Dunn’s River”.
Relive the magic of Sandals Dunn’s River’s Grand Opening celebration with our video recap. Click on the video below.
