Negril will fully reopen on December 15 as Bartlett hails the rapid recovery and investment in tourism | News
(HM Negril) Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett 3rd from left) and Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Hon. Tova Hamilton (left) shares a light moment with employees of the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa in Hanover as they embarked on a Tourism Recovery Tour of Negril to assess operational preparedness and support employees and small businesses as Jamaica recovers from the impact of Hurricane Melissa. Following the tour, Secretary Bartlett stated that Negril will officially reopen on December 15, 2025, following a rapid and coordinated recovery effort following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The tour, which took place on Friday, November 28, 2025, went all the way to Negril’s West End.
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlettstated that Negril will officially reopen on December 15, 2025 after a rapid and coordinated recovery effort after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Speaking at the end of a Negril tourist recovery tour Minister Bartlett said this weekend that the uniquely designed resort area – long branded as the ‘Capital of Casual’ – has shown remarkable resilience, driven by strong collaboration between tourism partners, their employees and surrounding communities.
The tour placed particular emphasis on Negril’s signature boutique hotels, while also visiting major resorts and major landmarks along the corridor. Across the board, operators reported that the eagerness of staff and community members to rally behind the cleanup efforts has allowed many properties to resume hosting guests and prepare for the critical winter tourist season. This underlines that Negril’s recovery is being led from the ground up by small Jamaican businesses that define the character of the destination.
Minister Bartlett shared some of the most moving examples, highlighting how people have made recovery possible, even those who have suffered personal loss.
Bee Chukka Ocean outpost in Sandy Baythe staff who were themselves hit hard by the hurricane still came to work with the determination to quickly restore the attraction. Along Negril’s West End, near Tensing Pen, nearly 100 residents came out the day after the storm to clean up the hotel so it could reopen. The boutique resort now expects occupancy rates of more than 80 percent early in the winter season.
Bee Coco LaPalm, one regular visitor shared how his 8th grade daughter, Gabby Nichols, raised $7,500 through a GoFundMe campaign to support hotel workers affected by the storm – a testament to the emotional connection guests feel with Negril and its people.
“I’m very happy that we’re here, despite how difficult the destination was in the beginning,” Minister Bartlett announced. “I can say to the world that Negril is ready for business and will officially open on December 15 as planned.”
In addition to human stories of resilience, Minister Bartlett underscored strong investor confidence in Negril and Jamaica’s broader tourism sector, noting that all major projects remain on track.
“A second element is the extent to which our partners’ confidence in the destination remains very high,” he emphasized. “Every single property that had planned expansion and further development is still going ahead with its programme. These investments will secure jobs, deepen local supply chains and strengthen tourism’s contribution to the Jamaican economy.”
Major projects include the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa in Hannover has confirmed that preparatory work has begun for the construction of a further 1,000 rooms, which is expected to start in January 2026. Across the island, other resort properties have also reaffirmed their development lines. Bahia Principe will renovate its 1,300 rooms and build a further 365 high-end luxury rooms to open in 2027, employing up to 3,000 employees. Sandals Resorts has also announced expansion plans.
“So what we are saying to the world is that Jamaica is not just a symbol of resilience and our tourism is not just a symbol of strength,” Secretary Bartlett added. “It is also a symbol of the confidence the world has in a small destination like ours, even after experiencing perhaps the worst weather conditions in the Northern Caribbean. After just a month, we can honestly and sincerely say to the world: we are open and ready to help you.”
Guests already at the destination have also confirmed the quality of the experience. Chebo, part of a family of 15 from Cameroon celebrating Thanksgiving at the Grand Palladium, said: “We love the resort. We are enjoying it. We are having a good time; the weather is nice. Jamaica is a hospitable country, the service is good, everything has been good.”
Tourism Recovery Task Force Chairman John Bylesalso praised the pace and cooperation behind the recovery. Take note of “The recovery of the tourism product,” he emphasized, “the most important thing I see, which always gives me confidence in our destination, is the coming together of government and the private sector to put all the pieces together. This is how we ensure a very quick recovery for Negril and for Jamaica.”
With Negril on track to fully reopen on December 15, the Ministry of Tourism and its government agencies will continue to work closely with industry partners to secure jobs, strengthen community resilience and ensure visitors can enjoy safe, high-quality experiences during the winter season and beyond.
