Jamaica Resorts Restart After Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 system, producing widespread power outages and structural damage across western parishes while sparing the capital, Kingston, from the worst winds. Resorts report that guests and staff are safe, cleanup is moving quickly in tourist corridors, and airports are reopening in stages, enabling phased restarts at properties from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Negril. Travelers should verify both hotel status and flight schedules before traveling.

Where Resorts Stand Now

Major brands say safety checks and debris removal are well underway. Sandals Resorts International reported that all guests and team members were safe following landfall, and that recovery and relief efforts are in progress at its Jamaica portfolio, including Beaches in Negril.

Independent and luxury properties offer a mixed picture. Half Moon in Montego Bay confirmed team and guest safety and said crews are restoring grounds and services, with updates issued as work proceeds. Nearby Round Hill reported only minimal cosmetic damage and is sequencing full services as staff checks conclude. Travelers should expect limited amenities at some properties while landscaping and nonessential venue repairs continue.

Some portfolios are taking a longer pause where damage is heavier. Trade and loyalty outlets report that Hyatt's eight all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay have suspended operations and are not accepting new reservations for the near term while assessments and repairs continue. Travelers with November stays should monitor brand advisories for rebooking paths or sister-property options.

Couples Resorts, with hotels in Negril and Ocho Rios, said guests and staff are safe and that properties are not accepting new arrivals through mid-November as they stabilize operations. Advisors should watch for rolling updates to that date as utilities and staffing normalize.

Airports, Access, and Utilities

Flight connectivity is returning, which is essential for resort restarts. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston reports that commercial service has resumed at Norman Manley International Airport and at Ocho Rios' Ian Fleming International, with Montego Bay's Sangster International ramping more gradually after initial relief operations and partial gate closures. Travelers must reconfirm flight status before heading to any airport.

Airlines are rebuilding schedules into tourism gateways. American Airlines noted it had resumed operations at Ocho Rios and is progressively restoring service at other impacted airports, a sign that inbound lift for resort corridors is improving day by day.

On the ground, the government reports significant progress on clearing key roadways used for airport transfers and resort logistics, though localized detours and slower travel are still possible while crews address debris and washouts. Power restoration remains a work in progress after extensive grid damage, with the Jamaica Public Service Company prioritizing hospitals, water facilities, and dense customer clusters before resort zones receive full redundancy.

Tourism Outlook And Timelines

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has activated a Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and a Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee, setting an ambitious target to have the sector fully back in operation by December 15, 2025, subject to utility stabilization and verified building safety. That timeline, if met, would align with the winter high season and reduce the need for widespread relocations.

Industry snapshots echo cautious optimism. Trade coverage and destination briefings note that while iconic resort stretches in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios absorbed flooding and wind damage, the backbone travel infrastructure is returning, and authorities emphasize that all international visitors accounted for during the storm remain in good health.

Background

Hurricane Melissa's Category 5 landfall near Jamaica's southwest coast produced island-wide impacts but concentrated the most severe resort-area damage in western parishes. Satellite assessments highlight significant property losses, while newsrooms and officials continue to refine damage estimates. The combination of phased airport reopenings, prioritized power restoration, and brand-level recovery planning will determine the pace of resort restarts over the next two weeks.

Final thoughts

Jamaica's resorts are reopening in waves, not all at once. If you are holding a near-term reservation, confirm your hotel's operating status and any amenity limitations, verify your flights, and build flexibility into airport transfers while cleanup and utility work continue. With the tourism task force's December 15 target in place, the island's resort corridors are on a clear path to recovery, albeit at different speeds.

Sources

Here you go-source texts as clickable links:

• Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Kingston, Jamaica - Oct. 31, 2025
• Jamaica's Airports Resume Limited Operations Following Hurricane Melissa - Aviation Week
• Hurricane Melissa: American Resuming Operations in Ocho Rios, Jamaica - American Airlines Newsroom
• A Message from Sandals Resorts International, Hurricane Melissa Update
• Storm Recovery Updates - Half Moon, Montego Bay
• A Message from Round Hill: Resort Reopening Update
• Hurricane Melissa Update - Couples Resorts, Operational Pause Through Nov. 15
• Minister Bartlett Targets Full Tourism Restart by December 15, 2025 - Jamaica Information Service
• Electricity Network Severely Impacted After Hurricane Melissa - Jamaica Public Service (JPS)
• NWA Making Progress Clearing Blocked Roads - National Works Agency
• 13 Relief Flights to Arrive in Jamaica Today - Jamaica Information Service
• NMIA, Ian Fleming International Airport to Open for Relief Flights - Jamaica Observer