Sandals Resorts International has formed a new partnership with Marriott International to bring AC Hotels by Marriott to the Caribbean. This is the first partnership between the hospitality companies and the first time SRI will manage a brand it did not create. Construction for the new AC Hotel in Kingston, the partnership’s debut project, gets underway this month and is slated to open winter 2019.
According to SRI CEO and Deputy Chairman Adam Stewart, the AC Kingston will have 220 rooms, a 10,000 square foot conference center and full service restaurant. Parking, often a challenge in Jamaica’s capital, will include both valet and self-serve options.
Plans call for the AC Kingston to be the centerpiece of an expansive, mixed-use development, located on five acres of Kingston real estate in the prestigious Jamaica House neighborhood, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Jamaica. It has been designed to attract both a local and international audience.
“Kingston is quickly becoming a starting point for visitors who want to discover Jamaica beyond its beaches,” Stewart said in a statement. To help visitors explore Kingston and its surroundings, an outpost of Island Routes Caribbean Adventures, the Caribbean tour company Stewart founded, will be installed at the new development.
“Marriott International is excited to partner with Sandals Resorts International on bringing the AC Hotels by Marriott brand to Jamaica,” VP Development, Marriott International Caribbean and Latin America Alejandro Acevedo said. “Because of solid partners, like Sandals, we are able to continue to expand our presence in the Caribbean and Latin America where we currently operate over 200 hotels across 30 brands. The AC Hotels brand will be an excellent addition to our existing portfolio in Jamaica.”