Royal Caribbean Group plans $3 billion Sandals stake
The proposed 50 per cent investment is expected to close in early 2027, pending customary approvals and closing conditions.
Royal Caribbean Group plans to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately US$3 billion. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to customary approvals and other closing conditions.
During a virtual call with nearly 5,000 travel professionals, Sandals Resorts International executive chairman Adam Stewart said the partnership is intended to accelerate growth while preserving the brands, management teams and relationships with travel advisors. He said he will remain executive chairman and that existing general managers and sales teams will stay in place.
Stewart said the transaction would add no new debt to Sandals, which will remain an asset-heavy business. He also identified possible future links between the companies’ loyalty programs, as well as opportunities to collaborate on technology, supply chains and innovation.
According to Stewart, all 20 Sandals and Beaches resorts are either being upgraded or scheduled for improvements, with some projects involving hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. He also outlined plans for new hotels, including properties in destinations not currently served by the brands, but did not identify the locations. A later stage of growth is expected to take Sandals beyond the Caribbean, though Stewart said details would be announced in the future.
