RIU Hotels & Resorts is ready to reopen all seven of its hotels in Jamaica before the end of the year, leading the reactivation of hotel operations in the destination. The country is dedicated to the recovery of its main industry as the best way to overcome the crisis caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The reopening is accompanied by the return of charter flight operations from key markets such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, thanks to the commitment of Sunwing and TUI to the destination’s recovery.
Operation is currently being reactivated in phases. The Riu Ocho Rios, located in one of the destinations least affected by the storm, has remained open and has already recovered all its services. The Riu Montego Bay reopened its doors on Sunday, November 23, and the Riu Palace Jamaica is doing so today, November 24, reintroducing the premium product in this first stage of reactivation. The four remaining establishments (Riu Reggae; Riu Negril; Riu Palace Tropical Bay, and Riu Palace Aquarelle) have tentative opening dates scheduled from November 30 to December 15, 2025.
RIU’s operational and technical team worked on the necessary cleaning and repair work just a few days after Melissa passed to ensure the hotels were ready in record time. The main challenges were restoring water and electricity services, which fortunately are already functioning in all destinations.
RIU’s commitment to Jamaica has focused first and foremost on its employees, in line with the Proudly Committed strategy. This has materialized in the form of direct aid and the restoration of employment. The chain has mobilized a fund of $1,000,000 (USD), of which 80% has been assigned directly to staff. This support includes $570,000 USD specifically for providing materials for the reconstruction of employees’ homes, and $230,000 USD for immediate aid packages with basic necessities. Additionally, it has enabled an interest-free credit line of $1,300,000 USD to facilitate the management of damages.
The remaining 20% of the aid fund is being allocated to the Jamaican community. In collaboration with the Jamaica Basic School Foundation, $200,000 USD has been donated in humanitarian aid to deliver 1,750 support packages to isolated communities with limited assistance. Furthermore, RIU has partnered with the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) to prepare and distribute more than 7,000 solidarity meals daily from Negril and Montego Bay to the affected communities. This initiative pursues the dual objective of providing one hot meal a day in the most affected areas and, at the same time, offering a source of employment to our employees while normal operations are being restored.
After 24 years in the destination, RIU has seven hotels in Jamaica in Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Falmouth, totaling more than 4,000 rooms and 4,000 employees. The recent inauguration of the Riu Palace Aquarelle last year is a clear demonstration of the chain’s strong commitment to Jamaica, consolidating it as one of the most important destinations for RIU in the Caribbean.
For further information please visit:www.riu.com
About RIU Hotels & Resorts
The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family’s third generation. The company specialises in holiday resorts and over 74% of its establishments offer its acclaimed All Inclusive by RIU service. With the inauguration of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU is expanding its range of products with its own line of city hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has 98 hotels in 21 countries. In 2024, the chain welcomed 6,7 million guests and provided jobs for a total of 38.055 employees. RIU is currently the world’s 40th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean’s most popular, and the fourth largest in Spain in number of rooms.
For further information please visit: www.riu.com.
RIU Press Department
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