Marriott International is set to open its first all-inclusive Marriott-branded resort in Montego Bay in 2028 after signing an agreement to convert the former Catalonia Montego Bay hotel into a 522-room beachfront property.

The project forms part of a dual agreement between Marriott International and Spain-based Catalonia Hotels & Resorts, which will also see the development of an Autograph Collection all-inclusive resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania, scheduled to open in 2027.

The Montego Bay property, formerly the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort before being rebranded as Catalonia Montego Bay, was acquired by Catalonia in May 2024. It closed following Hurricane Melissa and had already been slated for a major refurbishment.

When it reopens in 2028 as The Marriott All-Inclusive Resort, Montego Bay, the hotel will feature 522 guest rooms, 13 dining outlets, three swimming pools, a lazy river, a spa, fitness centre, tennis and pickleball courts, nearly 13,000 square feet of meeting space and more than 2,100 feet of beachfront. The redevelopment adds 10 rooms to the property’s previous inventory.

Laurent de Kousemaeker, Marriott International’s chief development officer for the Caribbean and Latin America, said the agreement marks another step in the company’s growing all-inclusive portfolio.

“These agreements represent a significant milestone in our all-inclusive strategy and demonstrate the strength of our relationships with experienced owners seeking to maximise value through Marriott’s globally recognised brands,” he said.

De Kousemaeker noted that Catalonia already has an established relationship with Marriott through its ownership of the Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel and said the company was pleased to expand that partnership into two major leisure destinations.

The project marks Catalonia Hotels & Resorts’ first investment in Jamaica, expanding its Caribbean footprint beyond its five all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and four in the Dominican Republic. It also represents the entry of Spain’s Vallet family into Jamaica’s hotel sector, joining other Spanish hospitality groups such as Riu Hotels & Resorts, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts and Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.

“We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Marriott International through these two significant projects,” said Manuel Valenzuela, Catalonia’s chief commercial and operations officer.

“This agreement reflects leading international brands’ recognition of our operational excellence and the strength of our management model. It also aligns with the company’s expansion strategy, including collaborations that support our growth in strategic markets.”

The announcement further strengthens Marriott’s presence in Jamaica, where the Courtyard by Marriott Kingston became the company’s first branded hotel when it opened in 2015.

Montego Bay is also preparing to welcome another Marriott-branded property. Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart announced last year that a 165-room AC Marriott hotel will be developed on the Hip Strip under the European Plan model, with an expected opening in 2027.

Marriott said demand for all-inclusive resorts continues to grow, with the company now operating 38 all-inclusive properties across nine Caribbean and Latin American markets. A further 16 projects, representing approximately 5,600 rooms, are currently in the region’s development pipeline.

Guests at the Montego Bay resort will also have access to Marriott Bonvoy, the company’s global loyalty programme, which has nearly 283 million members worldwide.

MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), operator of the Sangster International Airport (SIA), marked the launch of a new direct air link between Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Medellín, Colombia, on Tuesday, June 23.