Over the weekend of Might 19, a brand new moon rose within the skyscape of Ocho Rios, Jamaica. With it got here a cosmic reset and a renewed sense of course for the Sandals Resorts household. In nice celebration and legendary trend, Sandals Resorts unveiled its newest resort, the all-new Sandals Dunn’s River.
Image: An aerial beachfront view of Sandals Dunn’s River, designed with innovation, journey, and luxurious in thoughts.
Within the presence of Caribbean leaders and dignitaries and Jamaica’s most well-known performers, the brand new resort welcomed its first friends to honor the legends of the previous, whereas maintaining sights set on the long run of Jamaican tourism. The A-list visitor checklist included the likes of GRAMMY-award-winning artist Shaggy, The Voice winner Tessanne Chin, and the famend forged of STOMP, recent off their Broadway run. The occasion was a celebration not solely of Sandals’ newest resort, however a commemoration of a 30-year-old dream realized.
Three many years in the past, our founder Gordon “Butch” Stewart handpicked the hallowed land that now holds Sandals Dunn’s River, as soon as house to the enduring Arawak Resort. On this method, the brand new resort stands as a illustration of legends and a dedication to the golden age of Jamaican tourism. Stewart, who grew up on the sands and shores of Jamaica, left his fingerprints on each nook of the brand new resort, which stands as the ultimate challenge he collaborated on along with his son, Sandals’ present Govt Chairman, Adam Stewart.
Image: Sandals founder Gordon “Butch” Stewart.
With this sacred historical past in thoughts, the grand opening celebration featured a tribute to the late founder, Gordon Stewart – a hospitality big with a bigger than life legacy, who spent his early days promoting fish to native resorts in Ocho Rios. His story, the Sandals story, is the stuff of legends, and that’s what we have been there to have a good time.
Image: Miss T’s Kitchen, a neighborhood restaurant in Ocho Rios serving up genuine Jamaican Delicacies.
Upon arrival on the swanky celebration, Caribbean Prime Ministers, Sandals executives, and honored friends have been greeted with an unique cocktail, the “Jamaican Sorrel Royale,” a glowing model of the normal Jamaican Rum Punch. Between sips, they snacked on scrumptious bites from throughout the resort’s new restaurant ideas, together with macarons infused with the vacation spot’s locally-sourced chocolate and treasured Blue Mountain coffee.
Image: Sandals Dunn’s River is taking espresso to the following degree at BLUM, a espresso store impressed by the Blue Mountains of Jamaica.
Company combined and mingled to the melodies of a 40-member choir from the College of the West Indies, the Edna Manley School, and the Ashe Firm. Jamaica’s most proficient performers and most awe-inspiring voices swelled by means of a spanning and emotional tribute to Stewart, honoring a life effectively lived, a dream realized, and a legacy that may by no means be forgotten.
The music and the magic didn’t cease there. Effectively past sunset, friends danced to the sounds of a metal drum band and marveled at state-of-the-art video mapping of the iconic Dunn’s River Falls. At this celebration, the performances weren’t restricted to a stage. Above the horizon line, aerial ribbon dancers gracefully scaled the facades of the resort’s new buildings, and entertainers carried out in swimming pools, floating on unique bamboo rafts customized made by Jamaican artisans. This legendary celebration unfolded within the heights of the skies and the depths of the waters.
The thrilling artistry culminated in performances from world-renowned entertainers, starting with a soul-stirring efficiency from the forged of STOMP, who introduced the heartbeat of Jamaica to the brand new Sandals Dunn’s River grounds. On the perimeters of seats and the guidelines of toes, friends roared as they welcomed the ever-iconic Mr. Boombastic himself, Shaggy. The “King of Reggae” and the pleasure of Jamaica, Shaggy carried out his biggest hits from “It Wasn’t Me” to “In The Summertime,” encouraging celebrators to sing alongside. The mere presence of these performers represented one thing far better than night occasion leisure. These artists, alongside honored Caribbean dignitaries, symbolize the soul of the island Sandals Dunn’s River now calls house and their involvement certifies the authenticity and coronary heart that was so thoughtfully poured into the tradition of this new resort.
The performances led to extravagant trend, with a powerful fireworks show giant sufficient to mild up your complete Ocho Rios sky. Nonetheless, the celebrations continued into the evening at a lunar after-party and seashore bash below the sunshine of the brand new moon.
Photograph credit score: Andrea Raffin/Shutterstock.com
All nice events, even one of the best of them, ultimately come to an finish. The thrills are ephemeral, the drinks run dry, and the performers relaxation. Phases are struck and new moons wax, however the explanation for celebration by no means wanes. Within the shadow of the Sandals Dunn’s River opening, we’re left solely with the recollections. What stays, of course, is the greatness, the legacy, and the promise of the all-new Sandals Dunn’s River.
The resort, the seventeenth within the Sandals Resorts household, awaits you, our honored friends. Right here, the long run guarantees new recollections, better events, romantic moments, candy hellos and bittersweet goodbyes.
Whether or not Dunn’s River marks your first or seventeenth Sandals go to, there’s something new in retailer for you right here. Should you suppose you’ve seen all of it, you have not. At Sandals Dunn’s River, Jamaican roots are infused into each touchpoint, every nook of the resort echoing the vacation spot’s lush forests and majestic banyan bushes. The water that flows by means of the resort is sourced instantly from the pure reserves of the Dunn’s River Falls, from the foyer waterfalls to the cascading swimming pools of the Pink Lane Spa and Jamaica’s largest pool. The all-new Tufa SkyPool Butler Suites mark the primary cantilevered suites in Jamaica, that includes glass panels spanning the size of oceanfront balconies. The guest-favorite Coyaba Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suites have been reimagined with huge open-air rooftops tucked into the island’s lush flora.
Image: The Coyaba Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suites match with a non-public pool and a rooftop hideaway.
For the Sandals Resorts household, the individuals of Jamaica, and also you, Sandals Dunn’s River is a legendary present from the grand hotelier who began all of it, and in solely the best way he would anticipate, the resort affords a wholly new expertise of the island, of house. To be taught extra in regards to the new Sandals Dunn’s River from the nice minds who constructed it, tune into our newest PalmCast episode, “A Legendary Welcome: Executive Chairman Adam Stewart Introduces Sandals Dunn’s River”.
Relive the magic of the Sandals Dunn’s River Grand Opening Celebration with our recap video. Please click on the beneath video view.
