Sandals and Beaches Resorts Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart announced Saturday that all of the chain’s properties will close from March 30 to May 15, in a move to safeguard the safety and health of guests and team members amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Stewart said making such a call was “difficult” but necessary.
“Never could we have imagined the impact the current global health crisis would have on the world,” Stewart said in a press release. “In these unprecedented times, and now more than ever, the safety and health of our valued guests and team members is of paramount importance. Recent global travel warnings, coupled with airline carrier cancellations, have compelled us to make the difficult decision to close all Sandals and Beaches Resorts from the period of March 30 to May 15, 2020. Therefore, we will not be able to accept new arrivals as of March 23, 2020.
“We also want to alleviate any additional worry you might have about your upcoming vacation,” he said. “Our dedicated team will be reaching out to you personally to assist with rescheduling your future plans. This way, you can spend less time trying to reach us and more time with your loved ones.”
Stewart’s all-inclusive luxury resort chain operates 19 properties across seven Caribbean islands.