MEGA HOTEL IN RUNAWAY BAY OPENS 600+ ROOMS
RUNAWAY BAY, St Ann; April 3, 2026
Jamaica’s Tourism continues its strong rebound following the passage of Hurricane Melissa with the reopening of Bahia Principe, Runaway Bay, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the reopening marked another major step in the country’s recovery. Speaking at the reopening, Mr Bartlett said it also reflects investor confidence and a shared commitment to national recovery.
The hotel suffered significant damage from the hurricane and had been considering changes to its operations before that. It has now reopened 660 rooms at the all-inclusive property that has two distinct offerings for its guests.
(Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett (centre), cuts the ribbon to officially reopen the Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in St. Ann on Wednesday. Joining Mr Bartlett are (from left) Managing Director of Bahia Principe, Jonay Guerra, and Tourism Director, Donovan White.)
“The 800 staff members who are back on the job as a result of this great
opening… is the kind of commitment that makes a good partnership between
entrepreneurs, the State and people,” he stated.
JIS reported that Minister Bartlett noted that the resort’s recovery is particularly significant given the extensive damage it sustained during Hurricane Melissa.
Mr Bartlett said that Jamaica’s tourism arrivals have already rebounded to approximately 78 per cent of pre-hurricane levels, with projections to reach the 80 per cent range as additional room stock comes back on stream.
(Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, addresses the official reopening ceremony for Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in St. Ann on Wednesday, April 1.)
According to JIS, Managing Director of Bahia Principe Runaway Bay, Jonay Guerra, also referred to the hurricane damage and the resolve to restore the property.
“If anyone walked this property in the days after the storm, the weight of the
hurricane… would have been visible everywhere. But along with that, something else would have been just as present. There was effort, there was resolve, there was determination to rebuild and move forward,” he said.
Mr. Guerra noted that the reopening represents more than a return to operations, describing it as a renewed commitment to Jamaica and its people.
“Jamaica, a country, has never been just a destination for us, but a partner in the journey,” he said.
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Serena Grant Photos/JIS
