by Brian Major
Last updated: 10:14 AM ET, Fri November 21, 2014
PHOTO: Rendering of Sandals' over-the-water suites planned for 2015. (Courtesy of Sandals Resorts International)
Sandals Resorts International is commencing with the construction of several new resorts, and is adding new features to existing properties including over-the-water suites at its Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica, said CEO Adam Stewart.
Stewart said five of the water-straddling suites, which the company had originally planned years ago for its St. Lucia properties, will be completed by the winter of 2015. The 1,200-square-foot suites will include in-suite Jacuzzis and infinity pools on their outdoor decks.
"In the Caribbean when one thing is successful, the competition tends to adopt that same strategy," said Stewart in a gathering with media in New York Thursday. "This is what we feel is the future for Caribbean tourism," Stewart said. "We're going to push the envelope on the all-inclusive experience as far as we can."
Sandals will also undertake what Stewart called an unprecedented building project as the company will simultaneously build Beaches Resorts properties in Barbados and Antigua. In Barbados the property will be a 315-room resort while in Antigua the company will convert its beachside Grand Pineapple Beach Resort property into a 300-room Beaches resort.
"We feel the Beaches brand as a family brand has so much opportunity for the future," said Stewart. "Multi-generational families can stay together in suites that can be as large as, in the case of Beaches Turks & Caicos, four bedrooms with 4,000 square feet of living space."
The upcoming Beaches property in Barbados is actually the company's second project in the destination; the company is also proceeding with a $65 million renovation of the Sandals Barbados resort it acquired last spring.
The property will feature Sandals' first-ever Indian restaurant when the resort re-opens on Jan. 28, 2015, Stewart said. The property will also include the resort's second Butch's Chophouse steak house. The first opened earlier this year at the Sandals La Source Grenada resort.
In fact, the Barbados resort will meet "the Grenada standard," said Stewart and include infinity pools in every suite and what he described as "the largest pool in the Caribbean." The resort will also offer the Bombay Club, the first Indian restaurant in the Sandals chain.
Stewart also said Sandals' Grande Riviera resort in Ocho Rios is also undergoing a major renovation that will add a beach club as well as the company's first speakeasy bar, which Stewart said will feature "authentic 1920s décor with opulent furnishings and incredible service."
Sandals will also launch its first Southern-cuisine restaurants in 2015, one at Sandals Grande Riviera and one at its Beaches Turks & Caicos resort.
Finally Stewart said the Robert Mondavi Winery has replaced Beringer Vineyards as its primary wine supplier. He said Mondavi will produce private-label wines for Sandals.
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