Last week, Sandals Resorts hosted the Jamaica Love Showcase, gathering over 1,000 travel advisors, industry partners, and officials to spotlight the brand’s newest practices driving Caribbean tourism.
Executive Chairman Adam Stewart and Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted trends such as sustainability, immersive dining, and the critical link between employee engagement and guest satisfaction. Sandals’ commitment to sustainability is evolving with regenerative initiatives, recycling food waste, and collaborating with local farmers to support livestock.
Kirstin McCarthy, Corporate Director of Sustainability, described the focus on enhancing local ecosystems and communities through a circular economy model that Sandals plans to expand across the Caribbean. Caribbean cuisine is also a key focus. Sandals is bringing local flavours to the forefront, creating immersive dining experiences that celebrate the region’s rich cultural heritage.
New dining concepts like BLÜM and Sweetwood emphasize sustainable, local ingredients, while unique cooking techniques, such as coconut husk grilling, are showcased at Buccan, Sandals’ Saint Vincent property. In design, Sandals is enhancing emotional engagement with purposeful amenities like Jamaica's Coyaba Sky Villa Swim-up Suites with private stargazing and Sandals Royal Curaçao’s complimentary MINI Coopers. Danielle Darling, Senior Manager of Interior Design, shared that each element aims to offer guests an authentic Caribbean experience.
Sandals’ wellness approach now includes active relaxation options, integrating natural surroundings and energizing activities. At Sandals Saint Vincent, treatments inspired by the island’s landscapes and courts for sports like pickleball encourage guests to connect with their environment while staying active.
Employee engagement remains a cornerstone, with Sandals Corporate University offering courses for skill-building and development. Through a partnership with EON Reality, Sandals uses augmented reality to provide lifelike training, preparing staff to create standout guest experiences.
This commitment to relationships and community continues to drive Sandals' vision for Caribbean tourism.
