This Runaway Bay Resort Isn't Just Reopening After the Storm — It's Getting a Whole New Way to Dine

Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica will reopen on December 1, 2026, capping a comprehensive refurbishment that reaches well beyond storm repairs. The property, part of Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, has been closed since Hurricane Melissa disrupted much of Jamaica's north coast, and the reopening marks one of the larger pieces of the island's recovery to come back online this year.

The refresh adds new accommodation tiers, including Junior Suite Premium and Junior Suite Premium Ocean Front categories, alongside upgraded public spaces. The headline change is culinary: a new gastronomic venue called The Round Island will serve international cuisine, giving returning guests a reason to look past the obvious "we're back" narrative.

The reopening follows the return of its sister property, Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay, which came back on April 1 after its own renovation. Together, the two hotels restore 664 rooms and roughly 800 jobs to Runaway Bay, a meaningful jolt for a community whose economy leans heavily on tourism.

The timing tracks with a broader rebound. Jamaican tourism officials have said arrivals and hotel capacity have already recovered to more than 80 percent of pre-hurricane levels, helped by the steady return of major all-inclusive brands across the island. For Bahia Principe, the December date positions Grand Jamaica to catch the tail end of the high-demand winter season, when Caribbean bookings peak.

For travelers who had written off Jamaica's north coast for the winter, the reopening is a signal that the region's largest resorts are not only patched up but, in several cases, better than they were before.