Dignitaries and distinguished friends gathered for an exhilarating occasion honoring previous legends whereas celebrating future Jamaica tourism.
Beneath the transformational gentle of a brand new moon, Sandals Resorts Worldwide (SRI) unveiled its newest resort, the all-new 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River, with a celebration befitting its legendary lore in Jamaica’s tourism historical past. The evening introduced collectively leaders within the Caribbean, valued members of the Sandals Resorts household, and Jamaica’s most quintessential performers – together with GRAMMY-Award successful artist Shaggy and The Voice winner Tessanne Chin – to commemorate the following chapter within the new resort’s storied historical past.
“That is the place the place all the things started for Sandals Resorts, and from the place we stand, it’s a shocking illustration of the place we’re headed,” mentioned Adam Stewart, Government Chairman of Sandals Resorts. “Sandals Dunn’s River is the continuation of my father’s journey to raised. It’s a hero’s story about an bold boy who started promoting fish to native resorts and the way he went on to vary how folks choose to trip, making Jamaica and the Caribbean the centerpiece of his efforts. It’s an epic story about an unimaginable one that continues to encourage us to dream greater, do extra, be higher. It’s the stuff of legends and that’s what this night is all about,” mentioned Stewart.
Prime Ministers, together with The Most Honorable Andrew Michael Holness of Jamaica and The Honorable Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Ministers of Authorities together with Minister of Tourism of Jamaica The Honorable Edmund Bartlett; and native dignitaries from throughout the Caribbean area, in addition to different distinguished friends, joined along with Stewart, SRI CEO Gebhard Rainer and different members of the Sandals Resorts staff for an official invocation of the resort and a momentous ribbon chopping ceremony, toasting to the way forward for luxurious tourism in Ocho Rios.
Prime Minister Holness in his foremost deal with recalled his dialog with the late Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart about buying the property.
“It’s such a formidable factor to see a dream come to actuality and if there’s one factor you possibly can say about Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, it’s that he was a dreamer.”
“He was additionally a doer that can convey that dream to fruition, a person who will at all times get the job carried out. We’re standing right here actually dwelling in ‘Butch’ Stewart’s dream,” he mentioned.
A Tribute to a Legendary Previous, A Celebration of the Future
Surrounded by the sounds of flowing water and tropical birds and below a cover of thatched branches invoking the luxurious Jamaican rainforest, friends have been met with cocktails expertly crafted with native components paired with an array of cuisines from the resort’s eating places, together with ideas solely new to the Sandals model. The night was a nod to the resort’s earlier days because the Arawak Resort, inbuilt 1957, and initially designed by visionary architect Morris Lapidus, whose joyful, flamboyant designs outlined the epitome of Nineteen Fifties and Sixties Caribbean stylish. The occasion themed the “Return of a Legend,” featured an expertise and vibe artfully recreated for the occasion. The outside areas of the posh all-inclusive resort have been remodeled right into a retro supper membership, full with lounge music, glittering gold accents, vibrant inexperienced palms and SWAG servers – a brand new tackle the ‘cigarette servers’ from many years previous. Melodies from a 40-member choir from the College of the West Indies, the Edna Manley School and the Ashe Firm, featured a spanning tribute to Sandals late founder, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, honoring a life nicely lived, a dream realized, and a legacy that can by no means be forgotten.
Echoing the Heartbeat of Jamaica
Just like the resort itself, whose design inspiration is pulled from the flowing water of the close by Dunn’s River Falls, the occasion infused and celebrated the soul of Jamaica all through the festivities. Company have been handled to the sounds of a steel-drum band; ribbon dancers; aerial performances, with costumes matching the vibrancy of the island’s tradition, in entrance of a state-of-the-art video mapping of the Falls; in addition to native musicians such because the Jamaican instrumental trio, Contact of Class. Mimicking the pathway of the flowing water from Dunn’s River Falls, entertainers additionally carried out inside the pool, floating on unique bamboo rafts customized made by Jamaican artisans. An electrifying efficiency from the famend forged of STOMP, recent off their Broadway run, introduced the ‘beat’ of Jamaica to the stage with a wordless percussion spectacle.
A Star-Studded Starting
The celebration culminated in awe with a crowd rousing efficiency from the ever-iconic Mr. Boombastic himself, Shaggy. Capping off the night, a formidable fireworks show lit up the Ocho Rios sky, and – moved by the momentum – a lunar after-party continued with a seaside bash below a brand new moon, signaling one more section within the story of Sandals Dunn’s River.
“Now, with the longer term earlier than us, we stand on stable floor, dedicated as ever to celebrating our Caribbean heritage and delivering to the following generations of Sandals prospects the unsurpassed stage of innovation, pleasure and unparalleled service they’ve come to anticipate and that they so nicely deserve.”
Adam Stewart, Government Chairman, Sandals Resorts
For extra details about the all-new Sandals Dunn’s River, go to https://www.sandals.com/dunns-river/.
About Sandals® Resorts
Sandals® Resorts affords two folks in love the convenience and refinement of the most-awarded luxurious all-inclusive trip expertise within the Caribbean. With 17 beachfront settings in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, and Curaçao, every resort displays the design, delicacies, and distinctive essence of its island residence. From butler service and gourmand eating to top-shelf liquor and splendid suites, together with the Caribbean’s first Over-the-Water Villas and Bungalows, Sandals Resorts creates the time and moments obligatory for {couples} to reconnect and concentrate on what issues most: one another. Infamous for pioneering improvements that continually evolve and elevate the all-inclusive trip expertise, Sandals Resorts has just lately launched recent ideas such because the model’s first-ever double infinity pool and an off-site Island Inclusive eating program, whereas staying true to its Caribbean roots and showcasing the transformative hyperlink between tourism and its energy to rework lives via its philanthropic arm, the Sandals Basis. Sandals Resorts is a part of family-owned Sandals Resorts Worldwide (SRI) which incorporates family-friendly Seashores Resorts, and is the Caribbean’s main all-inclusive resort firm. For extra details about the Sandals Resorts Luxurious Included® distinction, go to www.sandals.com.
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