One of Jamaica's largest family all-inclusive resorts is set to reopen on 1 December, bringing 647 rooms back into service on the island's north coast ahead of the winter season. The former Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica will return as Bahia Principe Explore Jamaica after a renovation lasting about a year, the company has announced.

The work covered guest rooms and suites, public areas, restaurants and spaces used for recreation and entertainment. Bahia Principe says the reopening will also bring back approximately 1,000 jobs in Runaway Bay, on the St Ann coast. The resort, which closed in January for the renovation, is being relaunched with an introductory promotion offering discounts of up to 50 per cent.

Guests will find three swimming pools, a water park and a kids club, along with seven restaurants. Dining options include Italian and Mongolian cuisine, a Route 66-themed restaurant and more casual places to eat. The activity programme includes Jamaican patois and dance classes, live music, a production called Xaymaca The Show, beach parties, karaoke, sports and a bike tour.

Explore is Bahia Principe's label for resorts aimed at families and groups, while its Escape label is for adults seeking a quieter stay. The brand is part of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection through a joint venture between Hyatt and Pinero, and the new labels are part of a wider reorganisation of the Bahia Principe portfolio.

The return comes as Jamaica restores hotel capacity following Hurricane Melissa in 2025, with the Jamaica Tourist Board projecting that 90 per cent of the island's hotel room inventory will be available by 1 December. The neighbouring adults-only Bahia Principe Escape Runaway Bay reopened in April, returning 664 rooms and about 800 jobs, according to The Gleaner. Read the full report from Caribbean Journal.