Sandals Resorts Reports All Guests and Staff Safe After Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica

Published on October 31, 2025

When the Category 5 storm known as Hurricane Melissa bore down on Jamaica, the damage could have been unimaginable for hotels, resorts and travellers alike. For the luxury resort brand Sandals, the first public update brought relief: all guests and team members staying at its Jamaican properties are safe and accounted for.

According to the official statement released on October 30, 2025, Sandals Resorts and its affiliated properties reported that “all guests and team members that were staying at our resorts in Jamaica during the Category 5 storm this week are safe.” The company added that it has begun comprehensive assessments of all its resort properties on the island.

What the Update Covers
The statement expresses deep gratitude—to the guests who cooperated with the resort’s protocols during the storm, and importantly to the team members who, even while their own families and communities faced the storm’s impact, remained dedicated to serving guests. “Their extraordinary commitment and care … brought comfort during a challenging time,” the company said.

Sandals also acknowledged that many guests will have had their travel plans disrupted by the storm. The resort group said its customer-service team is reviewing upcoming reservations and offering flexible options for those whose trips may have to be rescheduled.

Safety First, Then Recovery
The safe-guest announcement is important. It reflects that Sandals had effective emergency plans in place, from early warnings to guest communication, to moving guests and staff to safer zones as conditions intensified. While damage assessments are still underway, the first goal—people’s safety—was met.

Next comes the recovery phase. Sandals said that as Jamaica begins its recovery from Hurricane Melissa, the company stands ready to provide “unwavering support.” The company’s relief arm, the Sandals Foundation, has already begun responding.

What Travellers and Partners Should Know
If you had a reservation at a Sandals resort in Jamaica over the next weeks, the news gives a measure of reassurance—but the disruption is real. Here are key take-aways:

• The resort chain is proactively contacting upcoming guests and offering flexible changes or rescheduling.
• Wait-times for customer service are expected to be longer than usual due to high call volumes. Sandals asked for patience and suggested that guests not travelling within 30 days might hold off on calling immediately.
• While guests and staff are safe, damage assessments are ongoing. It’s wise to confirm the status of your specific resort and its amenities before travelling.
• For travel advisors and agents, the situation highlights the importance of flexible booking policies, clear communication to clients and contingency planning when travel disruptions strike.

The Human Side of the Story
Behind the announcement lie countless stories of resilience, calm and coordination. Guests who arrived for a holiday suddenly found themselves weathering one of the strongest storms in Jamaica’s recorded history. Resort team members, many of whom have personal stakes in Jamaica’s safety, shifted from hospitality mode to emergency-staff mode overnight—yet still kept caring for guests. Sandals’ public message commended both guest cooperation and team dedication.

One travel-industry account recounted how guests were moved to centralized safe buildings, meals delivered to rooms, and staff giving daily weather updates. The fact that Sandals was able to confirm everyone was safe so quickly suggests that planning and training were in place and executed well.

Why This Matters for Jamaica’s Tourism
Tourism is a vital export for Jamaica, and resorts like Sandals are key economic pillars. A safe-guest announcement matters because travel-trade confidence depends on how destinations handle disruptions. Sandals’ update helps reinforce the message that Jamaica remains focused on guest welfare, crisis readiness and recovery.

As Jamaica addresses the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa—which brought devastation to some western coastal areas and forced airport closures and cancellations—having major resort brands publicly communicate safety and support is crucial to managing perceptions and encouraging future travel.

Looking Ahead
With the immediate safety crisis addressed, the focus now turns to:

• Resort-by-resort damage assessments and repair timelines.
• Re-opening schedules for affected facilities at the resorts (pools, bars, restaurants, rooms).
• Guest-communication updates—especially for those planning to travel in the coming weeks and months.
• Relief and community-support efforts led by the Sandals Foundation to assist local staff and their communities during recovery.

For travellers, agents and partners, the recommendation is: stay in touch with your Sandals resort, check updates, be flexible with your booking and appreciate the human and operational effort happening behind the scenes.

Conclusion
In the face of a historic hurricane, Sandals Resorts’ prompt public update that all guests and staff are safe provides relief and builds confidence. It is also a testament to the dedication of hospitality teams working under stress and the cooperation of guests adapting to major disruption. As Jamaica and its tourism sector rebuild in the coming days and weeks, this moment of safety and solidarity stands out—not just as news, but as proof of resilience, compassion and care in travel.