Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart says the Jamaica-born hospitality company is preparing for a new era of growth, with plans to expand the Sandals and Beaches brands beyond their traditional Caribbean base following a landmark partnership with Royal Caribbean Group.
Royal Caribbean announced on September 23 that it will acquire a 50 percent equity stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts in a transaction valued at approximately US$3 billion, creating a joint venture designed to accelerate the growth of the all-inclusive resort brands. The deal, which is expected to close in early 2027, remains subject to customary approvals and closing conditions.
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Stewart said the partnership represents the next stage in fulfilling the vision of his late father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who founded Sandals in Montego Bay in 1981 with the belief that a Caribbean company could compete globally with the world’s leading hospitality brands. He described the agreement as a natural progression that will provide Sandals with additional resources to expand more rapidly while preserving its Caribbean identity.
The companies have indicated that the investment will help meet growing international demand for the Sandals and Beaches brands while creating opportunities to broaden distribution, strengthen guest engagement and make it easier for travelers to move between cruise and land-based vacation experiences. Royal Caribbean’s vacation platform includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, as well as private destinations and an expanding travel portfolio.
Stewart has suggested that the partnership could eventually support expansion beyond the Caribbean, although he emphasized that the region will remain at the center of the company’s identity. Sandals currently operates resorts in Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Curaçao, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while Beaches has properties in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, with additional developments planned in The Bahamas, Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Industry analysts say the alliance combines two of the travel sector’s most recognized vacation brands and reflects strong global demand for all-inclusive resorts. Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty said the companies see opportunities to expand the reach of Sandals and Beaches and create stronger connections between cruise vacations, private destinations and resort stays.
Under the agreement, Stewart will remain Executive Chairman and continue guiding the long-term strategy of Sandals and Beaches. Existing reservations, loyalty programs and resort operations will continue unchanged while the companies explore future growth opportunities.
For Stewart, the partnership represents more than a financial transaction. It signals the possibility that a company founded in Jamaica more than four decades ago could evolve into a truly global hospitality brand while maintaining the Caribbean spirit that has defined Sandals since its beginning.
