Sandals Grande Antigua has announced that it will begin the expansion of its property in the first quarter of 2023.
In the construction phase of the project, the hotel anticipated that as many as 400 jobs will be created over the two years it will take to complete the upgrade.
Another 300 permanent jobs will be created to serve the additional guests the resort will serve.
Word of the expansion of the luxury, couples only resort has been welcomed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne who said the development is a sure sign that Antigua and Barbuda is on its way to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sandals expansion also signals the business community’s confidence in the stability of the government and its management of the economy.
Minister of Tourism, Charles Fernendez also welcomed the news.
Last week, Minister Fernandez said the 2023 tourism season is projected to be one of the country’s most successful as a number of developments will open doors while several existing properties will be upgraded under new management adding to Antigua and Barbuda’s room stock.
Already, Jolly Beach’s reopening this month has increased the country’s room stock by 200. Several more will return to service when the resort, which is now under new management, is fully renovated.
There is word that the world-famous Nikki Beach luxury hotel and resort chain will also come to Antigua and Barbuda very soon.
The Halcyon Resort, which is also being refurbished, is expected to reopen as the Royalton Chic in 2023.
This week, the Antigua Barbuda Hotels and Tourist Association said that 2022 performed outstandingly when compared with the record-breaking tourism achievements of 2019.
While the room stock in 2022, is less than it was in 2019, occupancy in October and November 2022 outperformed figures of the same period during the country’s last regular season before the pandemic.
Occupancy in October 2022 closed at 68.5 percent against 52.3 percent for the same period in 2019.
In November, occupancy stood at 81.5 percent, a significant increase over the 69.4 percent recorded in 2019.
