OCHO RIOS — Sandals Resorts brought the Sandals extended family together to celebrate the launch of Sandals Ochi Beach Club this past weekend in Ocho Rios.
Gathering select travel agents and trade media from across North America, as well as Spring Reunion hotel guests, Founder/Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and his son, CEO Adam Stewart, showed off their $60 million investment transforming Sandals Grande Riviera Resort to Sandals Ochi Beach Resort.
Offering an almost endless list of amenities, Sandals Ochi Beach Resort has reinvented the 100 acres at Ocho Rios: 529 villas, luxury rooms and suites have been transformed into modern plantation style, with classic mahogany furniture, soothing earth toned decor, extensive use of stone tile and marble and numerous amenities within the new hillside All-Butler Village, Great House Village and Riviera Seaside Village.
But it wasn’t just an everyday announcement: in true Sandals style, a stylish cocktail party and dinner under the stars led to the celebratory ribbon cutting with Jamaica’s Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook, the kickoff before the resort’s Friday night tradition of fireworks and beach dance party.
The hotel’s transformation relies on the mantra “trendy when you want it, private when you don’t” as the theme for the guests who will be encouraged to “find their own Ochi”. At the press conference, Butch Stewart related his fondness for Jamaica, speaking about about how all roads lead back to Ocho Rios, an area he has known and loved since he was a young boy and how Sandals Resorts, the number one employer on island, has made a difference on the island economy.
“Because of travel agents, we’re earning more hard currency than any other private company on island,” explained Stewart, and that Sandals Resorts’ commitment to local sourcing of ingredients and products, generates income for many Jamaican companies. Stewart proudly reminded everyone that his company has been voted World’s Best All-Inclusive at the World Travel Awards for the past 19 years, and that Sandals Resorts television commercials are airing every 30 seconds somewhere in North America, always mentioning viewers should “call their travel agent”.
