Through consistent implementation of regional health protocols and active monitoring systems, Sandals Resorts has become the only hospitality group in the Caribbean to have every one of its 19 properties certified by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) with the Healthier Safer Tourism (HST) Award.
This collective recognition has earned Sandals the distinct honour of being designated a Healthier, Safer, Destination (HSD) — the first hotel group ever to receive this title.
The awards were presented at a special ceremony hosted at Sandals Montego Bay, where Dr Lisa Indar, executive director of CARPHA, commended the brand’s consistent and proactive health efforts across its entire regional portfolio. According to Dr Indar, “this isn’t just about recognition. It’s about real-time response and prevention that protects not only guests but also local communities.”
Sandals’ regional footprint includes 7 resorts in Jamaica — Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, Sandals Negril, Sandals Ochi, Sandals South Coast, Sandals Royal Plantation and Sandals Dunn’s River — as well as its flagship Beaches resort in Negril. The company’s presence continues across the region with Sandals Grande St Lucian, Sandals Halcyon Beach and Sandals Regency La Toc in St Lucia, Sandals Royal Bahamian in the Bahamas, Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados, Sandals Grande Antigua, Sandals Grenada, Sandals Royal Curaçao, Sandals St Vincent, and Beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Each of these resorts met CARPHA’s rigorous standards by going through a process of active and confidential reporting, addressing any form of threats with urgency, while ensuring that at least 10% of the team completed certified training in the prevention and control of infectious diseases within the hospitality sector.
Jeremy Jones, regional managing director for Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica, called the recognition a critical validation of the brand’s standards. “What makes this award truly special,” he said, “is that every single one of our resorts is recognised — not just as individually safe, but collectively forming the region’s first Healthier, Safer Destination. That’s a game-changer for tourism in the Caribbean.”
The Healthier Safer Tourism award, launched by CARPHA in 2020 through its Tourism and Health Programme, serves as a measurable traveller health assurance tool. It is backed by major regional and international bodies, including the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC). Properties that earn the award are publicly listed by CARPHA and will soon be linked to other tourism and health websites to help travellers make more informed choices.
Dr Indar underscored the significance of the partnership with Sandals, noting that “CARPHA has a long-standing, public and private relationship with Sandals, collaborating since 2012 on promoting health and safety in tourism. This historic milestone underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to tourism health, safety and environmental responsibility across the Caribbean as well as demonstrates its novel, trusting, strong partnership with CARPHA.”
With the Caribbean being the most tourism-dependent region in the world, the HST designation not only enhances the guest experience but also reinforces long-term economic resilience. Jones added, “CARPHA provides a safe environment for reporting and supports the hospitality and tourism industry in our region. Whenever something goes wrong with tourism in the Caribbean, we all get nervous, we all start to wonder what the best solution is and what CARPHA does for our resorts is to provide that level of safety and comfort.”
“Our long-standing relationship with CARPHA has played an invaluable role in helping us to champion the culture of health, safety and well-being across all our resorts. Together we have strengthened our systems, empowered our team members and set high standards to ensure that our guests, team members and community members are always protected. This ongoing collaboration reminds us that health and safety are not just policies; it is a shared commitment that brings us together, inspires confidence and builds a stronger, more resilient tourism industry,” Jones further elaborated.
With this latest achievement, Sandals continues to set the regional standard for responsible tourism, reinforcing its legacy not only as a leader in luxury all-inclusive travel, but as a brand that puts the health and safety of its guests, staff and communities at the forefront.
Sandals Resorts
