Sandals Resorts has confirmed is planning to invest $US500 million to expand and enhance its offering in the Caribbean over the coming decade.

The Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, which opened five years ago, will be among properties to benefit from this investment with a $10 million upgrade planned.

Set on 50 acres of lush tropical foliage in the untouched Westmoreland region of Jamaica, Sandals Whitehouse offers exclusive European opulence set amongst a Caribbean backdrop.

The property has also undergone several upgrades over the past year, including renovations to all resort restaurants, the main lobby area and treatment rooms at the resort’s exclusive Red Lane Spa. 

In addition, the top two categories of suites – the One Bedroom Penthouse Honeymoon Beachfront Suite and the One Bedroom Walkout Honeymoon Beachfront Suite – have been completely refurbished with updated furniture, upgraded soft goods and new plasma TVs, offering an even finer retreat for resort guests.

A new Sandals City resort in Kingston, Jamaica is also planned as part of the Sandals expansion.

“The Sandals City resort is very much under development,” revealed Chief executive, Adam Stewart, said of the 250-luxury-room resort to be built on five acres of land along Oxford Road in Kingston.

Plans are proceeding for the construction of a new off-shore village being built at Sandals Grande St Lucian, in the eastern Caribbean island.

Ground was broken at this development last week.

Some 150 luxury suites, including the Sandals’ signature over-the-water suites accommodation, are to be built.

Expansion plans – outlined as part of Sandals 30th anniversary celebrations - include the development Beaches brand with the construction of a 400-room resort at Whitehouse in Westmoreland, 100 private luxury suites at Beaches Negril and a 400-room resort at Bloody Bay in Negril.

Another of the company’s plans involves an off-shore island at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, where several over-the-water suites are also to be constructed.

Sandals has also enjoyed a glittering run of success at the renowned World Travel Awards in recent years, most notably being recognised as the Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Company in 2010.

This year, Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island will play host to the World Travel Awards Americas & Caribbean gala ceremony.

Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa will welcome WTA on October 22nd

The ceremony, hailed as the the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’ by the global media, is set to attract the top decision-makers and thought leaders from across the Americas and Caribbean as they compete for the most influential accolades in travel.

Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts explains: “At Sandals Resorts, we come from the region, we understand the communities, we understand the quality of the beaches and we understand the services and standards that the customer now demands.”

“As we celebrate 30 years of providing luxury vacations that exceed expectations, I can say that we are delighted to showcase those services and amenities to the travel industry once again this year.” 

Maridol Ortiz Perez, Group Sales Manager , Casa de Campo, Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, Ramel Sobrino, General Manager, Sandals Royal Hicacos, Sandals Resorts and Beaches, collecting their awards during the Americas & Caribbean gala ceremony in 2010

In order to accommodate elite, high end travellers, a new VIP lounge has opened in in Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport – which has been nominated for World’s Leading Airport and Caribbean’s Leading Airport. The 10,000 sq foot ‘Club Mobay’ lounge aims to showcases the best of Jamaica through cultural design and visual displays.

The Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony marks the fifth and final leg of World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Tour, and follows heats in Dubai, UAE; Antalya, Turkey; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; and Bangkok, Thailand. Regional winners from these events then progress to the Grand Final in Doha, Qatar in November.

The event partners are Sandals Resorts, BBC World News and WeClickMedia, while media partners include National Geographic Traveller, eTurboNews, Focus on Travel News, Breaking Travel News, JaxFax and Travel Daily News.

For more info about World Travel Awards 2011 Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony & bookings visit: http://www.worldtravelawards.com/americas2011

To find out what else is happening in Jamaica and Montego Bay, why not visit jamaica.city.mobi
or montegobay.mobi.