Gay Nagle Myers
From Aruba to Turks and Caicos, a number of hospitality players are readying their resorts, plumping the pillows, redesigning restaurants and disinfecting all surfaces to welcome their guests as soon as this month (and beyond) as the islands begin reopening their borders to visitors.
The following list is by no means complete. Most hotels are capping occupancy at percentages that range from 30% to 70% depending upon room count, size of resort and the ease and ability of resorts and guests to maintain social distancing. Guests will be required to wear face masks in public spaces. And they will have access to in-room amenities that include hand sanitizers and wipes but not coffee makers, notepads or minibars.
Meanwhile, major Caribbean, multi-island chains are planning to reopen, such as Sandals.
Updated July 13.
Anguilla
Belmond Cap Juluca will reopen on Oct. 23.
Antigua
The Villas at Sunset Lane are slated to open June 30 and The Great House on July 1. Cocobay Resort, Cocos Hotel and Keyona Resort are also looking at a July 1 reopening while Blue Waters and Galley Bay plan to reopen in October followed by Barbuda Belle and the Inn at English Harbour in November.
They will join resorts that are currently open, including Antigua Village, Buccaneer, Hammock Cove, Heritage Hotel, Hodges Bay, Sandals Grande, Siboney Beach Club and Tamarind Hills.
Upcoming openings include Pineapple Beach Club July 10, Carlisle Bay Resort Oct. 10, St. James's Club Oct. 14, Ocean Point Resort Oct. 22, Curtain Bluff on Oct. 24 and The Verandah Resort & Spa Nov. 1.
Admirals Inn and Hawksbill Resort plan to open some time in the fourth quarter.
Aruba
The 357-room Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino on Palm Beach will welcome guests on July 9. Guests with reservations made prior to March 12 can change or cancel without penalty at least 24 hours prior to arrival but no later than Aug. 31.
The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino plans to reopen on July 10.
The Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive will resume operations on July 8 while the Divi Aruba All Inclusive will follow on July 10.
The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino opens June 30.
La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino Aruba reopened July 10.
Bahamas
Atlantis Paradise Island pushed back its reopening date to July 30 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the U.S., a key market for the resort. It had planned to reopen in a limited capacity on July 7 with accommodations in the Royal Towers, East and West and the Harborside Resort.
The Baha Mar complex in Nassau has postponed its reopening and hopes to resume operations in October, according to Graeme Davis, president.
Breezes Resort & Spa-Bahamas
is open.
Cuvee's Royal Island off the coast of Eleuthera and Riu Palace Paradise Island reopen July 1.
The 96-acre Kamalame Cay Private Island Resort off the coast of Andros in the Bahamas' Out Islands will welcome guests from July 1 through Aug. 31 and reopen for the 2020-2021 season on Nov. 11.
The 250-room Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas reopens on July 1.
Open on Grand Bahama: Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina; Bell Channel Inn; Ocean Reef Resort & Yacht Club; Pelican Bay Hotel; Royal Islander; The Village Bahamia; Blue Marlin Cove & Marina; Old Bahama Bay Resort & Marina; Paradise Cove; Bootle Bay Fishing Lodge.
Lighthouse Point and Sunrise Resort & Marina have not announced reopening dates.
Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach will reopen on Nov. 20.
Bermuda
Rosewood Bermuda will reopen on July 2.
British Virgin Islands
Long Bay Beach Resort on Tortola's West End plans a soft reopening in December, pending completion of a development project that includes 20 beachfront rooms and a new beach restaurant.
Cayman Islands
Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, plans to reopen Sept. 1.
Curacao
Dreams Curacao plans to reopen Oct. 1; Sunscape Curacao reopens July 16.
Dominican Republic
AMResorts will reopen Secrets Cap Cana on July 10, Dreams Macao Beach on July 3; Dreams Punta Cana on Aug. 5, Now Onyx on July 16, Zoetry Agua on Nov. 5, Secrets Royal Beach on Nov. 5, Breathless Punta Cana on July 16, Dreams Palm Beach on Aug. 7 and Now Larimar on Oct. 22.
Dreams Dominicus La Romana reopens Aug. 1 and Sunscape Puerto Plata on Nov. 4.
Amanera resort on the north coast targets a July 1 reopening.
Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Punta Cana has set a July 15 reopening target.
Riu Palace Bavaro reopens July 1; Dominican Fiesta reopens July 27; and Grand Palladium Palace Resort & Spa Casino and TRS Turquesa Hotel will reopen Aug. 1.
Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar and Bahia Principe Fantasia Punta Cana, both located in the Bahia Principe Bavaro complex in Punta Cana, are open.
Grenada
Silversands Grenada reopened its doors on July 1.
Jamaica
Sandals Negril has reopened; Secrets St. James will reopen Dec. 18
Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay reopened July 8.
Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica is now open.
Round Hill will reopen on Sept. 1.
AMResorts' Breathless Montego Bay and Zoetry Montego Bay will reopen on Oct. 1, Secrets St. James on Dec. 18 and Secrets Wild Orchid on Aug. 1.
Riu Ocho Rios is open. Sunset at the Palms plans to reopen July 9; Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa, July 10; and Royalton Negril Resort & Spa, Hideaway at Royalton Negril and Grand Lido Negril, July 15.
The adults-only, clothing optional Hedonism II in Negril will reopen on July 1 with a number of "party safely" measures in place. Masks are required of guests and staff.
Azul Beach Negril reopens on July 1.
Half Moon in Montego Bay has reopened its Rose Hall Villas and is working to reopen other accommodation areas as soon as possible. The beaches and lagoons, golf course, equestrian center, in-room massages and the Hammock Bar and restaurant on the beach are open.
The Tryall Club in Montego Bay will reopen on Aug. 1. Guests arriving this season can experience the new Beach Club which debuted earlier this year in addition to the golf course, tennis club, craft market and gym. Phase II begins on Nov. 4 and will include the reopening of the Beach Bar & Grill. Phase III begins on Nov. 21 with all facilities fully open, including the Beach Restaurant and the kids club.
Puerto Rico
Margaritaville Vacation Club-Rio Mar reopened June 22.
St. Barts
The following hotels and villas are accepting visitors this summer: Hotel Le Toiny; Hotel Manapany, to Aug. 24; Les Islets de la Plage; Les Mouettes Hotel; Ondines Sur la Plage; Auberge de la Petite Anse; Salines Garden Cottages; Hotel Villa-Lodge; Baie des Anges; Fleur de Lune; Le P'tit Morne Hotel; Le Village St. Bart; Pearl Beach.
St. Lucia
Bay Gardens Resorts, which include Bay Gardens Inn, Bay Gardens Hotel, Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Bay Gardens Marina Haven and Water's Edge Villas, plan to resume operations on July 1.
St. Martin/St. Maarten
Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa reopens Oct. 16
The Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa and the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort on St. Maarten postponed their reopening dates from June 3 to July 1 due to the extended government regulations and lack of passenger flights to the island, including from the U.S.
Travel advisors who booked clients for arrival prior to the reopening date can reschedule with no cancellation or change fee, provided they do not cancel and rebook at a later stage. Guests will receive a future stay voucher, which can be redeemed with an additional $50 per day resort credit, or they can opt for a refund at a later stage.
If travel advisors booked clients through a tour operator, they are advised to check with the operator's terms for rebooking the Sonesta reservations.
Sonesta is offering several promotional packages with flexible cancellation policies if booked by Dec. 15, 2020, for travel through Dec. 23, 2021. Several programs offer rates up to 50% off.
Belmond La Samanna plans to reopen on Nov. 2.
Turks and Caicos
Seven Stars Resort & Spa will reopen July 22.
Beach Enclave Long Bay and Beach Enclave North Shore reopen July 22; the Shore Club and Ocean Club resorts reopen July 22; and COMO Parrot Cay opens July 22.
Amanyara resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, plans to reopen on July 24 with the same procedures and protocols in place as its sister property Amanera in the Dominican Republic (see above).
The adults-only Club Med Turkoise on Grace Bay Beach will reopen its doors on Aug. 1 with hygiene and safety measures in place that include extended dining hours in restaurants to allow for social distancing, outdoor entertainment shows and guidelines for tennis and water sports; offsite excursions have been temporarily suspended.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The Buccaneer on St. Croix is open. Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas reopens July 1. Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham on St. Thomas reopens July 2. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, reopens July 15.