It’s a query you must ask. For 40 years, Sandals Resorts has regularly re-imagined the luxurious Caribbean expertise. Each catchphrase has been utilized in an effort to explain the improvements as they’re rolled out — all of them true. Sandals has modified the panorama, moved the needle, thought outdoors the field, and created all-new bins.
So how, after 40 years of too-good-to-believe improvements, might Sandals probably increase the bar even a fraction extra?
On June twenty fourth, Sandals raised it by a mile.
Pictured: Convertible MINI Coopers accessible to all company staying within the Kurason Island Bungalows and Awa Seaside Bungalows. Excellent for a prestigous journey across the island.
The grand opening celebration of Sandals Curaçao Royal was actually in contrast to something that had ever been seen – right here or anyplace else. It’s no marvel. The celebration got here as an exclamation level to a challenge that has been 10 years within the making, which made weekend livelier and sweeter than anybody might have anticipated.
However earlier than the dancers, bands, and fireworks had been set free, the grand opening celebration started with an on a regular basis prevalence on essentially the most stunning westward-facing seaside within the Dutch Caribbean: the magnificent hues of a tropical sundown. On this night, they occurred to solid a glow over the all-new Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows and Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows. It was as if the solar’s rays wished to be first in line to welcome the sixteenth and latest property within the Sandals Resorts portfolio. The well-wishers got here from all over the place.
Pictured: The solar units over our Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows.
As employees mingled with native dignitaries, and people dignitaries mingled with company, and company mingled with globally acknowledged entertainers, the sounds of a Kachu horn stopped everybody of their sandy footprints. Generations of Curaçaoans have heard the identical sounds as pronouncements of vital occasions on the island — births, bountiful harvests, and moments that demand a celebration.
The decision of the horn drifted out over the all-inclusive resort, and out to sea. The anticipation within the tropical air elevated. Daylight gave method to stage lights. There, carrying a delicate blue sport coat to casually align with the favored shade of Curaçao, Sandals Resorts’ Government Chairman, Adam Stewart, spurned the usage of a script and spoke his closing phrases from the center.
“We’re going to placed on one loopy social gathering so that you can rejoice 10 years within the making. Have the time of your life. Welcome to Sandals Royal Curaçao.”
Pictured: Sandals Resorts’ Government Chairman Adam Stewart addresses a spirited crowd of resort company, native dignitaries, island companions and worldwide press at Sandals Royal Curaçao’s Grand Opening Celebration.
And that kickstarted the resort’s tagline, “The place Superb Comes Collectively,” right into a before-your-very-eyes celebration of tradition, colours, and the return of Carnival to the island for the primary time in three years. It took a decade to dream up this all-inclusive resort in Curaçao. It solely took a matter of hours for folks to reside the dream on this beachfront 44-acre swath of Curaçao.
Iconic steel-pan artists coaxed company into rhythmic actions, a few of them into the course of a first-of-its-kind cocktail bar harking back to the island’s iconic Divi tree. Friends seemed skyward to Sway Performers transferring like palm timber on towering 20-foot-high flowers.
Metal pans by the native legend, Konkie, and accompanying band, The Guayaberas, gave method to mashups between drummers, DJs, and famend violinists CJ Opus and Clari Montergo. Tunes by Caribbean music producer extraordinaire, DJ Menasa, had been met by the long-lasting sound of Nelson Braveheart’s saxophone, with pop-up acts from cultural performers from Folkloriko Ambiente Kultural. The fiery hues of the sundown had been delivered to life by the Phoenix Curaçao Theatrical Hearth Present, mesmerizing the viewers with spectacular dance choreography and elaborate costumes.
Pictured: A basic Caribbean sundown alongside the coast of Sandals Royal Curacao.
Each second in the course of the celebration, right down to the blue-colored drinks and variety of performers, signified the long-awaited marriage of Sandals and Curaçao. To introduce the bi-level Dos Awa Infinity Pool, which overlooks the ocean from two ranges, company noticed a first-of-its sort synchronized swimming routine from Curaçao’s Swordfish Synchronized Swimming Group.
Pictured: The Dos Awa Infinity Pool at Sandals Royal Curacao, an island oasis the place swimming pools meet the ocean.
Pictured: You may discover essentially the most colourful cocktails right here, made with Blue Curacao.
The celebrities emerged, overhead and at eye degree. Designer Stan Herman has seen nearly every little thing at worldwide showcases throughout his illustrious profession. He’d come for the disclosing of the brand new Anniversary Assortment of uniforms he curated for Sandals Royal Curaçao. On this night time, although, he stood in full awe of the never-befores on the resort property round him, all of the whereas beloved Dancing with the Stars couple, Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy, made their rounds via the social gathering and the dance ground.
The pure Curaçao vitality would have made Vegas blush.
Simply when the vitality couldn’t probably be lifted any larger, a world phenomenon managed to shift all consideration again to the stage: Blue Man Group. The trio’s highly effective drumbeats and spectacle of paint was chosen as a headliner for good native causes. Their flourish of blue ties to what many contemplate essentially the most colorful island in the Caribbean.
Pictured: Curacao’s colourful structure discovered on each nook.
Jasmin van Eeden carried out a stirring operatic quantity in sync with a spectacular fireworks present. All of it actual and uncooked, celebratory and culturally related.
An much more extravagant affair, Carnival made its grand return to Curaçao for the very first time since 2019, choreographed by the award-winning Dushi Aventura with a kaleidoscopic, parade of near 100 drummers, dancers, stilt walkers and iconic entrance line costumes, all handmade particularly for Sandals Royal Curaçao’s grand opening. An look by Raynor “Raey” Lauffer, often known as the Tumba King, authenticated the efficiency as an official occasion of Carnival together with his profitable Tumba tune. In true Carnival trend, the parade was adopted by the dynamic brass band, Percussion Artistic Dynasty.
Blue Curaçao flowed freely from the bars surrounding the Dos Awa Infinity Pool straight to the Decade Disco and Dessert After Social gathering on the Seaside Membership. As a result of the place else would you need to hear the colourful music from Grammy Award-winning DJ Tracy Younger, whereas additionally sensing the calming sounds of the ocean 10 steps away? And on the seaside, the dancing lasted longer than it does at most marriage ceremony events. A very good social gathering does that to folks, particularly when the ft are in talc-smooth sand.
With any celebration comes the post-celebration. At Sandals Royal Curaçao, that meant the solar got here up the subsequent morning and lit up the colours of the ocean. It supplied the right backdrop for the stage that had been reset for yet one more landmark event. Two visionaries, Stewart and Herman, stepped as much as announce the disclosing of the brand new “Anniversary Assortment” Group Member uniforms, a challenge that the legendary designer started greater than a yr in the past.
For Sandals, the brand new look is one other bridge connecting the corporate’s 40-year legacy with a glance ahead.
There, immediately in entrance of the ocean, butlers and servers and hostesses and welcome employees took to the catwalk carrying the delicate hues of the island shades. Wanting proud, participating, and above all, completely happy — as if carrying Curaçao on their shoulders and hips.
Pictured: A butler at Sandals Royal Curacao, heading your means with a bottle of Champagne in hand, able to elevate your expertise. .
That is how the bar is raised by a mile. In re-thinking luxurious, Sandals additionally enhances what nature has supplied, like the gorgeous views and heat tradition. You embed them into your complete visitor expertise.
At this second, the seaside at Sandals Royal Curaçao is open and heat. It’s a stage all by itself. The view from the unimaginable Dos Awa Infinity Pool won’t ever change. The enjoyment and vitality from the grand opening doesn’t disappear. It will increase.
Pictured: Breathtaking ocean views from our Awa Seaside Bungalows.
In his feedback on opening night time, Stewart talked about one thing else with none prompting or preparation: “We’re excited to provide you a glimpse into the way forward for Sandals Resorts.”
The celebration began on June twenty fourth, however as it’s with the rising and setting of the solar, the celebration of dwelling has no boundaries. So, for company at Sandals Royal Curaçao, the time of your life is simply starting.
Hear extra about Sandals Royal Curaçao and the Grand Opening Celebration from Government Chairman, Adam Stewart, on the Sandals PalmCast Episode 31: Sandals Royal Curaçao – Where Amazing Comes Together.
