Sandals Resorts Begins Caribbean Reopening in Antigua

The Sandals Grande Antigua Resort is open for travel, making it the first Sandals resort in the Caribbean to reopen since the pandemic began. 

The all-inclusive property officially began welcoming guests on June 4 as Antigua and Barbuda reopened its borders to international travelers with new entry protocols. 

“We have been highly anticipating this moment and have spent this time strengthening every element of our health and safety protocols with our guests in mind. We are pleased to report that The Ministries of Health and Tourism have certified that we have successfully completed the stringent registration and inspection protocols with flying colors,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Founder and Chairman of Sandals Resorts, in a statement.

“We are eager to provide that much-needed escape for travelers who have been cooped up and are now seeking a place to relax that gives them the privacy, reassurance and the space they’re looking for. At Sandals, we include everything but worries, so guests can leave those behind and take this time to recharge with the ones they love. That’s our promise,” Stewart said.

Indeed, the resort brand has launched a series of new health and safety measures called the “Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness.”

That includes measures like either in-room check-in or “at-home” check-in before they arrive; the addition of hospital-grade disinfectants and electrical aerosol sprayers for guest room cleaning; and the introduction of protective face gear and gloves for staff. 

Sandals has also installed hand sanitizing stations across public spaces, in rooms and in dining locations, and added measures like air-duct sanitization for each arrival and departure and the use of UV-LED lighting equipment. 

The company also emphasized what is one of the Caribbean’s assets in the “new” world of travel: space. 

“All Sandals and Beaches Resorts are designed to never feel full and span large parcels of land with expansive beaches and open-air environments,” the company said in a statement. “This provides a strong foundation for Sandals to layer on additional protocols that ensure guests are able to maintain a safe distance from one another.”

All of the company’s resorts are also equipped with medical stations staffed daily with a registered nurse and “24-7 on-call medical personnel.”

The next Sandals Caribbean resorts to reopen will likely be those in its hub of Jamaica, when that destination reopens for tourists on June 15. 

For more, visit Sandals Grande Antigua. 

Note: all travelers to Antigua need to fill out a digital passenger registration form. 

— CJ