RIU commits US$2.3m support as 800 staff homes damaged
Published:Saturday | November 22, 2025 | 12:05 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
RIU Hotels & Resorts has launched a multimillion-dollar recovery programme for more than 4,000 Jamaican employees, mobilising US$2.3 million in aid, interest-free credit and community support after Hurricane Melissa.
Human resources manager Somae Pitkin said the storm placed extraordinary pressure on the chain’s seven Jamaican hotels, which house 4,274 rooms. At the height of the hurricane, RIU sheltered 5,000 guests without electricity, water or Internet, yet staff “performed with immense effort and professionalism”, ensuring the safety of every visitor, Pitkin noted.
Many employees brought their families into the hotels as the system battered communities from St James to Westmoreland. Pitkin said all properties opened their doors to staff and loved ones, even as the company balanced the dual responsibility of safeguarding guests and caring for employees. “Thankfully, we think we did well,” she said. “Until all our guests could return home, we had this great responsibility.”
The chain’s Ocho Rios resort remained open throughout the storm, while RIU Montego Bay is slated to re-open on November 23 and RIU Palace Jamaica on November 24. Director of marketing and sales Niurka Garcia-Linton said the remaining properties are expected to resume operations before year’s end, a significant step toward restoring normalcy.
In the days after the storm, RIU launched an employee outreach operation, calling staff to assess losses, distribute care packages and determine who needed shelter or assistance. Despite telecommunications challenges, the company has contacted most of its workforce, though about 30 remain unreachable.
Pitkin said urgent needs included food, clean water and home repairs. RIU has mobilised US$1 million in aid, with more than 80 per cent directed to employees. The package includes US$570,000 in building materials and US$230,000 in care packages. An additional US$200,000 was donated through the Jamaica Basic School Foundation to deliver 1,750 support packages to communities.
Beyond grants, RIU has activated a US$1.3-million interest-free credit line for staff needing appliances, furniture and other essentials. Nearly 800 employees have filed damage reports, with distribution of relief materials prioritised for those most severely affected.
The company has also partnered with non-profit group World Central Kitchen to prepare and distribute 8,000 daily hot meals from Montego Bay and Negril, feeding residents in hard-hit areas while providing work opportunities for employees whose households suffered losses.
Pitkin said the response reflects RIU’s longstanding commitment to Jamaica and its people, adding that the company’s focus remains on helping staff regain stability and “rebuild with dignity”.