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25 Years of “Respect and Love”: RIU Celebrates Jamaica’s Success and Resilience on its Anniversary
16 June, 2026 Share
Jamaica holds a special place in my heart. A few years ago, I explained that it is the destination that has brought me the greatest personal and professional satisfaction throughout my career. Today, I would add that I also have enormous respect for it. This year, we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary, and more than ever I believe that the island’s unique energy and the spirit of its people are truly infectious. After suffering greatly from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica has made a remarkable recovery. Its people are resilient and courageous. In addition, the authorities responded swiftly and effectively. Tour operators and visitors also showed their affection for the destination by continuing to support it and returning to the island very soon afterwards. For all these reasons, there is much to celebrate.
I first visited Jamaica in 1995. I wanted to see how the All Inclusive concept worked, as it was offered in very few destinations around the world at the time. What I discovered was a vibrant island of extraordinary beauty that I immediately knew had to become part of RIU Hotels’ portfolio. Reggae music is a national treasure and an incredibly powerful attraction. It forms part of the soundtrack to our lives and instantly transports you to this tropical paradise. So, I returned to Jamaica in 1999, hired a car, and when I arrived in Negril, I knew I was standing on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
RIU’s commitment to Jamaica: Seven hotels opened since 2001
And that is how it all began. In 2001, we opened the Riu Tropical Bay and have continued to grow with the opening of:
- Riu Negril in 2004
- Riu Ocho Rios in 2005
- Riu Montego Bay in 2008
- Riu Palace Jamaica in 2013
- Riu Reggae in 2016
- Riu Palace Aquarelle in 2024
Our growth has extended beyond hotels to include new services and experiences such as Splash Water World, RIU Party and the Elite Club service. Today, we have a total of seven hotels, 4,275 rooms, almost 4,000 employees and we welcome 500,000 guests a year.
Hurricane Melissa: A crucial test for RIU in Jamaica
The vast majority of our employees, 99.2%, are local and their charisma and dedication have helped build a strong base of satisfied guests who return year after year. The real test came with Hurricane Melissa. It was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike Jamaica. It made landfall on 28 October and moved very slowly across the island, significantly increasing the damage it caused. The tourist areas where our hotels are located and which were most severely affected were Falmouth and Montego Bay. Ocho Rios and Negril were less affected, although in Negril we faced major challenges due to the loss of electricity and internet services.
How did the RIU Hotels team respond to the hurricane?
We activated all our hurricane response protocols, something we have considerable experience with after so many years operating in the Caribbean. However, you never know the full extent of the damage until the storm has passed. I was in Fuerteventura preparing for the opening of the Riu Palace Calypso, and from there we held several calls each day as we prepared for the hurricane’s arrival and monitored the situation. Many more followed once it had passed. The first reports came in while heavy rainfall was still affecting the island. Fortunately, no one had been seriously affected, apart from five people who sustained minor injuries and were treated immediately. However, the damage was extensive and the challenge facing the local team was immense. On that day, we had 6,527 guests staying at our hotels.
Many of our employees were already at the hotels and stayed on to care for our guests, while others took refuge there with their families. The full scale of the devastation, in terms of communities affected and homes destroyed, was never fully measured. On 29 October, a major logistical operation began: assessing the damage, taking inventory and securing supplies of food, water and fuel for the generators, coordinating guest repatriations with tour operators and embassies, launching the clean-up operation and organising repairs. The entire RIU organisation mobilised to respond to the emergency.
They were incredibly long days. Our most urgent priority was looking after the guests already at our hotels. As soon as the airports reopened, we were able to organise departures. Montego Bay Airport reopened on 1 November, having previously been limited to emergency operations only. As guest numbers began to fall, we decided to consolidate them into one hotel in each destination: the Riu Montego Bay, the Riu Negril and the Riu Ocho Rios, which was the least affected and never had to close.
The Riu Palace Aquarelle: The most severely damaged hotel
The Riu Palace Aquarelle was the hotel that sustained the most damage. We had chosen this property to test the installation of solar panels in the Caribbean. This is a source of clean energy that we already use in many destinations around the world. In the Caribbean, however, we were not convinced it was the best option because of the region’s storms. Even so, we decided to proceed using specially designed mounting systems intended to withstand such conditions. Melissa showed us that it is not a viable solution. The issue is not economic, as the entire installation was insured, but one of safety. All 795 solar panels were torn away. Not a single one remained in place. More importantly, at the speed they were blown away, they became extremely dangerous projectiles. This ultimately convinced us that the project could not be replicated elsewhere.
Cooperating with authorities to return to normal operations
Looking after guests in an emergency situation is extremely challenging. There was no running water, no electricity and no reliable means of communication. During the first few days, the roads were severely affected, making the transport of goods and people slow and difficult. Fortunately, the capital, Kingston, remained fully operational throughout, which helped prevent an even greater level of disruption. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the authorities for their response. As soon as the meteorological service forecast the severity of the storm, the government began clearing drainage systems and waterways. It also deployed equipment and machinery to key transport routes to restore road access as quickly as possible. In addition, engineering services were brought in from the United States to reinstall electricity pylons and help restore power supplies as soon as possible. Their response was both decisive and effective.
Support measures for RIU employees in Jamaica
As all this was unfolding, our employees were facing many difficulties of their own. That is why we made every effort to support them:
- We put together aid packages containing food and essential supplies and distributed a total of 8,200, two for each employee. We also joined forces with the NGO World Central Kitchen, making our kitchens in Montego Bay and Negril available for their operations. With the help of our employees, we prepared hot meals that were then distributed to the hardest hit communities. Over a period of 22 consecutive days, a total of 108,000 meals were provided.
- We also recognised the urgent need for financial assistance to help rebuild the homes of those employees most affected by the hurricane. To support this effort, we distributed 830 vouchers that could be redeemed with building materials and DIY suppliers.
- In addition, we introduced an interest free loan programme to help them get back on their feet after the disaster.
RIU is making every effort to reopen all seven hotels before the end of the year
Alongside these relief efforts, our focus was on reopening and helping the destination recover. We always believed this was the best way to support Jamaica. As soon as circumstances allowed, we sent a team of professionals from both RIU and the main installation companies we work with across the Americas. They arrived from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United States and Spain. Before long, they had assembled a workforce of between 600 and 700 people dedicated to repairing and restoring every service and area of the hotels, ensuring they were ready to welcome guests once again.
On 9 November, we reopened bookings for the Riu Ocho Rios, and shortly afterwards each reopening became a milestone worth celebrating. We announced to the world that all RIU hotels would reopen before the end of the year, and that is exactly what happened. The Riu Montego Bay reopened on 23 November, followed by the Riu Palace Jamaica on 24 November. The Riu Palace Tropical Bay reopened on 4 December, while the Riu Reggae and Riu Negril welcomed guests again on 10 December. The last to reopen was the Riu Palace Aquarelle, on 15 December. All of these plans were developed in close coordination with our tour operator partners, as air connectivity was gradually restored. From the outset, the authorities made it clear that the best way to support the country was to reactivate the tourism industry. We shared that vision and backed it with our commitment to reopening. The tour operators embraced the plan, and guests showed just how much they love the island.
Tourism as a key driver in the post-hurricane recovery
I do not think anyone could have predicted the speed and strength of the recovery. We took a conservative approach when forecasting Jamaica’s performance, even though I was already more optimistic than the rest of the team. Yet what Jamaica is experiencing today has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise and express my gratitude to the Jamaican authorities. In the early days, they believed in our investment and in the positive impact our arrival would have in attracting other Spanish hotel groups and opening the destination to new international markets. More recently, they recognised tourism as a key driver of recovery and worked to meet the destination’s needs so that businesses like ours could play our part.
I would like to close by recognising our team in Jamaica. There are simply no words to fully acknowledge what you have done. There were no schedules and no limits. Many of you put the wellbeing of our guests ahead of your own and that of your families. You worked with whatever resources were available, never losing your composure or your smile. But this is not really about emergencies. Melissa simply highlighted the extraordinary value you bring and have been demonstrating every day for the past 25 years. Today and always: RESPECT AND LOVE.
Fdo. Luis Riu
