Jamaica, Stronger Than the Storm

A First-Hand Story of Resilience, Sandals, and the Island I Love

There are destinations you admire — and then there are places that change you.

Jamaica is the latter for me.

My love for this island, its people, and the Sandals brand was not shaped only by sun-filled days, turquoise seas, or flawless service — though Sandals delivers all of that effortlessly. It was shaped in moments of uncertainty, leadership, and humanity. Moments when everything else fell away and what remained was character.

I was in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025 — the worst hurricane in Jamaican history. I returned six weeks later, on December 3rd, 2025, to a nation restored, united, and ready to welcome the world back.

What happened between those two moments is the story that matters.

October 28, 2025

Being There When the Forecast Became Reality

Sandals Ochi Beach Resort

When Hurricane Melissa made landfall, I was on property at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, alongside fellow travel advisor Melanie Kooistra, and my aunt and uncle, Linda and Chester Beerling.

As forecasts intensified, normal travel expectations disappeared. Flights were cancelled. Plans unravelled. Guests searched for reassurance.

What I witnessed instead was calm.

Sandals Ochi immediately shifted into full hurricane preparedness. Daily safety briefings were held — clear, honest, and reassuring. Guests were informed repeatedly. Questions were welcomed. Updates were constant. Fear was replaced with facts and confidence.

I watched the resort physically transform before my eyes:

Windows were boarded
Structures reinforced
Outdoor furnishings secured or submerged
Central areas prepared to shelter every guest safely

There was no panic.
Only precision.

What Real Safety Looks Like

When the storm arrived, it came with force. I heard winds howling. I heard trees breaking. I saw water enter spaces — and then watched it be cleaned, dried, and restored almost immediately. Broken glass was handled swiftly and confidently.

At no point did I feel unsafe.

That level of safety does not happen by accident. It happens because safety is built into the DNA of Sandals.

Staff remained on site by choice, staying away from their own families to protect guests. Leadership stayed present. Communication never stopped. Guests were never left wondering what would happen next.

Under the leadership of Carol Burke, General Manager of Sandals Ochi, and her exceptional team, the resort operated with compassion, clarity, and strength. The pride, dignity, and care shown by the Ochi team will stay with me forever.

This is what luxury looks like when the skies turn dark.

Carol Burke – General Manager Sandals Ochi and Jensine Morabito CTC- Islands Refined and The Travellers Agency

Leadership That Shows Up — And Carries a Legacy Forward

After the storm passed and the full scope of damage became visible, a moment unfolded that forever shaped how I view Sandals.

Adam Stewart arrived at Sandals Ochi.

Adam Stewart is the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, and the son of the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart — the visionary founder who built Sandals on passion, kindness, responsibility, and an unwavering love for Jamaica and its people.

Adam didn’t send a message.
He didn’t delegate concern.
He showed up.

He walked the property.
He checked on guests.
He checked on staff.
He listened.
He cared.

In that moment, it was undeniable that he was not simply fulfilling a role — he was carrying forward his father’s legacy in the most meaningful way possible. Leading with empathy. Standing shoulder to shoulder with his team. Showing up because it mattered.

Adam stepped up in a way that would have made his father proud.

Alongside him, the presence of the Sandals Foundation reinforced what makes this brand different. Sandals is not a company operating in Jamaica — it is a Jamaican institution, deeply invested in its people, its communities, and its future.

You don’t manufacture culture in a crisis.
You reveal it.

Melanie Kooistra- The Travellers Agency, Adam Stewart -Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts and Jensine Morabito CTC, Islands Refined and The Travellers Agency- Photo taken post Hurricane Melissa during surprise visit by Adam Stewart.

A Brand That Takes Care of Its Own

One of the most important — and least talked about — truths I learned is how Sandals cares for its staff when the resorts are forced to pause.

During the closure period following Hurricane Melissa, Sandals team members continued to receive full pay, including protection of their pension plans, along with care packages and ongoing support while awaiting reopening dates.

This matters.

Because the calm I witnessed during the storm did not come from obligation — it came from loyalty. And loyalty like that is not demanded. It is earned.

When a company takes care of its people, its people take care of you.

That is why staff stayed on property during the hurricane.
That is why leadership stayed present.
That is why pride runs so deep within this brand.

Sandals never stopped showing love — and the love for Sandals never faded.

Melanie Kooistra The Travellers Agency, Lyndsay Isaacs- Sandals Foundation PR, Jenisne Morabito CTC, Islands Refined & Owner The Travellers Agency

When I Left Jamaica

When I departed Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, the reality was visible.

Power lines were down.
Roads were damaged.
Communities were impacted.

But what was equally visible was something else — a shared mindset.

There was no defeat.
There was resolve.

A collective We Have Life attitude grounded in gratitude, unity, and perspective — remembering that while the damage was real, it could have been much worse. Jamaica was still standing.

December 3, 2025

Returning to a Nation Restored

I returned to Jamaica six weeks later, on December 3rd, 2025, for Back to Jamaica 2025 — an exclusive, invitation-only Travel Advisor event hosted by Adam Stewart.

What I saw when I arrived genuinely moved me.

Roads repaired.
Power restored.
Resorts operating confidently.
Communities open, welcoming, and proud.

The transformation in just six weeks was remarkable.

The Government of Jamaica, the people of Jamaica, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and the Sandals Foundation worked diligently — together — to restore their nation.

This was not a temporary fix.
This was resilience in action.

Back to Jamaica

Showing the World What the Media Did Not

The purpose of Back to Jamaica was not to ignore Hurricane Melissa — it was to show what happened after.

For weeks, mass media focused on disruption and damage. While storms must be taken seriously, those narratives failed to show recovery — and in doing so, risked harming tourism long after conditions had stabilized.

Tourism is the heartbeat of Jamaica. When fear-based headlines linger, livelihoods suffer.

This event was designed to show advisors — and through us, the world — the truth:

Jamaica is back.
Sandals is back.
And the people are ready.

Standing alongside 400+ top travel advisors from across North America, the intention was undeniable.

Adam Stewart was there. Again.

Not on Zoom.
Not through a press release.
He showed up — just as his father would have done.

His presence, alongside leaders including
Gary Sadler, Executive Vice President of Sales & Industry Relations,
Garth Laird, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International,
senior management teams, and Sales & Business Development Managers from Canada and the USA, sent a clear message:

We are here. We always will be.

Adam Stewart Executive Chairman Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Gary Sadler Executive Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations at Unique Vacations.

Why Advisors — And Truth — Matter

This experience reinforced something I believe deeply: travel advisors are storytellers and advocates.

We don’t minimize storms.
We don’t ignore hardship.

But we do honour resilience.

We show what cameras leave behind.
We protect destinations by sharing truth.

Jamaica is not doom and gloom.
It is restored, resilient, and ready for you.

Jensine Morabito CTC, Islands Refined & The Travellers Agency, Winston Chang Business Development Manager, Western Canada, Unique Vacations.

Why I Share This With You

I share this story because I lived it — during the storm and after the recovery.

When you book Sandals through Islands Refined and The Travellers Agency, you’re not booking blindly. You’re working with an advisor who has witnessed luxury behind the scenes — who understands how Sandals prepares, protects, communicates, and cares when conditions are unpredictable.

Luxury shines when the sun is out.
Character is revealed when the skies turn dark.

If I ever face uncertainty again, I know this without hesitation:

I would choose Sandals. Every time.

Jamaica Is Back — Are You Ready?

Jamaica faced its greatest storm.
It came together.
It rebuilt.
It rose.

My love for this island — and for the Sandals brand — has only grown stronger.

Jamaica is back.
Sandals is ready.
The people are waiting.

And I would be honoured to help you experience it — thoughtfully, confidently, and beautifully.

Are you ready? 🇯🇲✨

Begin with Expert Guidance

If you’re planning a Sandals or Beaches vacation and want a refined approach from the very beginning, a private consultation is the fastest path to confident choices.

Questions before you begin? Contact Islands Refined

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Islands Refined

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http://www.islandsrefined.com

jensine@thetravellersagency.ca

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email: info@thetravellersagency.ca

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