Over the weekend of Could 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.
Pictured right here: The 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River, the place fashionable design meets lush Caribbean landscapes.
Within the presence of Caribbean leaders and dignitaries and Jamaica’s most well-known performers, the brand new resort welcomed its first company to honor the legends of the previous, whereas maintaining sights set on the way forward for Jamaican tourism. The A-list visitor listing 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 get together was a celebration not solely of Sandals’ newest resort, however a commemoration of a 30-year-old dream realized.
Pictured right here: From left to proper: Singer-songwriter Shaggy, ‘The Voice’ Winner Tessanne Chin, and STOMP performers.
Three a long time 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 long-lasting Arawak Lodge. On this manner, 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 Government Chairman, Adam Stewart.
With this sacred historical past in thoughts, the grand opening celebration featured a tribute to the late founder, Gordon Stewart – a hospitality large 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 fun.
Pictured right here: A soul-stirring tribute by a 40-person choir from the College of West Indies, honoring Sandals Resorts Worldwide’s Founder Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s life and legacy.
Upon arrival on the swanky celebration, Caribbean Prime Ministers, Sandals executives, and honored company 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.
Pictured right here: The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness of Jamaica (left) and Sandals Resorts Government Chairman Adam Stewart (proper) share a cup of espresso on the first of its variety BLŪM espresso store, one among Sandals’ newest improvements.
Friends combined and mingled to the melodies of a 40-member choir from the College of the West Indies, the Edna Manley Faculty, and the Ashe Firm. Jamaica’s most gifted performers and most awe-inspiring voices swelled via 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, company 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 authentic bamboo rafts customized made by Jamaican artisans. This legendary celebration unfolded within the heights of the skies and the depths of the waters.
Pictured right here: Gravity-defying aerial acrobats scale the façade of Sandals Dunn’s River.
Pictured right here: STOMP’s show-stopping percussion introduced the grand opening celebration of Sandals Dunn’s River to life.
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 sides of seats and the information of toes, company roared as they welcomed the ever-iconic Mr. Boombastic himself, Shaggy. The “King of Reggae” and the satisfaction of Jamaica, Shaggy carried out his best hits from “It Wasn’t Me” to “In The Summertime,” encouraging celebrators to sing alongside. The mere presence of those performers represented one thing far higher than night get together leisure. These artists, alongside honored Caribbean dignitaries, signify 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.
Pictured right here: Mr. Bombastic himself, Shaggy, capped the night time off with a shock efficiency.
The performances led to extravagant trend, with a formidable fireworks show giant sufficient to mild up your entire Ocho Rios sky. Nonetheless, the celebrations continued into the night time at a lunar after-party and seaside bash underneath the sunshine of the brand new moon.
All nice events, even one of the best of them, finally come to an finish. The thrills are ephemeral, the drinks run dry, and the performers relaxation. Levels are struck and new moons wax, however the rationale 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, after all, 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 company. Right here, the long run guarantees new recollections, higher events, romantic moments, candy hellos and bittersweet goodbyes.
Pictured right here: After the shock Shaggy efficiency, fireworks illuminated the nightsky of Ocho Rios.
Whether or not Dunn’s River marks your first or seventeenth Sandals go to, there’s something new in retailer for you right here. When 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 timber. The water that flows via 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.
For the Sandals Resorts household, the folks of Jamaica, and also you, Sandals Dunn’s River is a legendary reward from the grand hotelier who began all of it, and in solely the best way he would count on, the resort provides a wholly new expertise of the island, of house. To study extra concerning the new Sandals Dunn’s River from the good 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 under video view.