Hurricane Melissa pushes back timeline for reopening of Bahia Principe resort, triggering redundancies
Published:Sunday | November 16, 2025 | 1:09 PM
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts says its Grand Jamaica property will remain closed until December 1, 2026, one year longer than planned, after Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage and slowed reconstruction, forcing major adjustments to the company’s Jamaican operations.
The Spanish hotel chain disclosed that recovery across its Runaway Bay complex has been more challenging than expected, with technical assessments showing the need for extended renovation works at the 850-room beachfront resort.
While the Grand Jamaica faces a prolonged shutdown, the company confirmed that its sister property, Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay, is scheduled to reopen on February 1, 2026, marking the first phase of restored operations.
An internal memorandum sent to employees on November 15 indicated that the closures will trigger a redundancy exercise, affecting staff at both hotels. Bahia Principe said it will work with service providers to assist employees seeking alternative jobs or counselling, and will continue consultations with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) to maintain transparency throughout the process.
The company noted that even before the hurricane, the Grand Jamaica had been earmarked for a major renovation. However, the destructive force of Hurricane Melissa, which caused severe damage across multiple parishes, has significantly altered timelines and increased the scale of required work.
Bahia Principe said it remains committed to Jamaica and will continue to monitor reconstruction closely, promising that the resort will reopen “fully renewed” with upgraded facilities and an enhanced guest experience once the project is complete.
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