Sandals Dunn’s River unveils conference centre

Speaker after speaker paid glowing tribute to the late Louis Grant, reflecting on his pivotal role in the success of Sandals Resorts International and the wider tourism sector over his six decades in the industry. Grant, who died on March 5, 2023, at age 86, was again honoured Tuesday, with the official opening of the Louis Grant Conference Centre at Sandals Dunn’s River in Mammee Bay, St Ann.

The new 8,000-square-foot facility, seating 360 at round tables and 500 theatre-style, forms part of a strategy to reposition the Ocho Rios region as a serious contender in the conference market, both locally and abroad. From the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, groups such as teachers, nurses, police and other professional bodies, along with several overseas organisations, had used Ocho Rios as a preferred annual meeting destination. The decline in available meeting space, coupled with the construction of the Montego Bay Convention Centre, sharply eroded that business.

Sandals and Beaches Resorts Chairman Adam Stewart, affectionately referring to Grant as “Uncle Louis”, described him as a beacon of excellence, an icon and an “unbelievable mentor”.

“Thank you for sharing him with us,” Stewart told Grant’s widow, Debbie, who sat in the front row absorbing the tributes to her late husband.

Debbie Grant expressed her gratitude for the honour.

“The conception, building and dedication of the Louis Grant Conference Centre embodies the over 25 years of leadership, professionalism, mentoring and commitment of my husband Louis Grant, to Sandals, and particularly Sandals Dunn’s River,” she told The Gleaner.

“Louis believed in leading with integrity, respect, care and guidance. He interviewed every single prospective employee and mentored many team members, always showing genuine concern for their aspirations.

“March 5, 2026 will mark three years since Louis’ passing and he lives on in our daughters, Ali and Bianca, and the countless treasured memories we all hold dear. He would be so proud.”

‘BIG THING FOR ST ANN’

Speaking on the target market for the conference facility, Jeremy Jones, regional managing director for Sandals Resorts Jamaica, said the company is actively courting clients both locally and overseas as it works to re-establish its position in the meetings sector. Sandals Dunn’s River, he noted, had been “one of the first resorts to start group business coming into Jamaica”.

“So this is just the next evolution by putting a facility in place that is going to meet all international standards, for the big businesses both local and internationally, that want a top-flight facility at their disposal,” Jones said.

Although the centre is already in operation, Jones explained that work remains ongoing, with several million US dollars invested to date.

Grant was the founding general manager of Sandals Dunn’s River when it opened in 1991, serving for several years and ultimately giving 25 years to the hotel chain. Although he entered the tourism sector as a 17-year-old fresh out of high school, it was at Sandals Dunn’s River that his reputation as a stalwart of Jamaican tourism truly flourished.

His contributions were recognised repeatedly: he was named Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) Hotelier of the Year in 2007, received the Order of Distinction (OD) in 2008 for meritorious service to the industry and, in 2018, was honoured with the JHTA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mayor of St Ann’s Bay, Michael Belnavis, said Grant’s legacy would remain etched in the history of Sandals and Ocho Rios, describing the new conference centre as “a big thing for St Ann”.