Kingston Jamaica, May 18, 2026 – The construction timeline for the proposed Sandals Resorts International Beaches Resort in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been pushed further into the company\u2019s regional expansion programme, despite earlier indications that design work would begin this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revised schedule emerged as Sandals announced a US$1 billion expansion of its Beaches brand across the Caribbean, including new developments in Jamaica, the Bahamas and St Vincent and the Grenadines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a report published by the Jamaica Gleaner on 18 May 2026, the St Vincent project is now expected to form part of the fourth year of the company\u2019s rollout programme placing major construction activity around 2029 rather than in the immediate term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The timeline marks a notable shift from comments made by Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart in October 2025, when he said the company would begin design work in 2026 for a Beaches resort planned for Mt Wynne on mainland St Vincent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that time, Stewart described the Beaches project as part of Sandals\u2019 long-term commitment to the country, explaining that the company had originally intended to build a Beaches-branded family resort before pivoting to the adults-only Sandals Saint Vincent property that opened in Buccament Bay in March 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…that was our original commitment to the country,\u201d Stewart said during the 2025 signing ceremony in Buccament Bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest announcement suggests the company is now sequencing its regional investments over several years as it seeks to double the Beaches brand footprint across the Caribbean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed St Vincent Beaches resort forms part of a wider tourism strategy pursued by the former Unity Labour Party administration, which had actively courted Sandals expansion following the opening of Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In October 2025, the government signed what officials described as a landmark agreement with Sandals for the development of a 500-room Beaches Resort at Mt Wynne, a project estimated at roughly US$500 million and projected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The administration also outlined a package of investment concessions and infrastructure support tied to the development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sandals had initially explored transforming the former Buccament Bay Resort into a Beaches property several years earlier. However, plans changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, with the company instead proceeding with the couples-only Sandals Saint Vincent resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Sandals has not publicly stated why the Beaches project timeline has shifted, the broader regional expansion programme announced this month includes multiple resort developments competing for phased investment and construction resources across several Caribbean territories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Beaches brand, which focuses on family-oriented all-inclusive resorts, currently operates properties in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n