MONTEGO BAY — Announcing the closure of Sandals and Beaches Resorts from March 30 to May 15, Sandals Resorts Chairman and Founder Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart says “the safety and health of our valued guests is of paramount importance.”

Stewart says the executive team made the difficult decision to shut its properties until mid-May in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sandals has also suspended all incoming calls to its call centre to deal with existing bookings. The company is contacting guests in booking sequence.

Here’s the complete message from Stewart:

“Never could we have imagined the impact the current global health crisis would have on the world.

“In these unprecedented times, and now more than ever, the safety and health of our valued guests is of paramount importance.

“Recent global travel warnings, coupled with airline carrier cancellations, have compelled us to make the difficult decision to close all Sandals and Beaches Resorts from the period of March 30 – May 15, 2020.

“Therefore, will not be able to accept new arrivals as of March 23, 2020.

“We also want to alleviate any additional worry you might have about your upcoming vacation. Please don’t call us because our dedicated team will be reaching out to you personally to assist with rescheduling your future plans. This way, you can spend less time trying to reach us and more time with your loved ones.

“The Caribbean is resilient. We have always come back better, stronger and more passionate than ever. We promise this time will be no exception!

“We will take this time to make further enhancements to our resorts, so that we will continue to surpass your expectations and provide you with the luxury-included vacation you so well deserve.

“You chose Sandals Resorts because it’s the brand you can trust. When the time is right, you can trust us to be here, ready to welcome you back with open arms and a warm smile.”