A transformative $3 billion deal that sees Royal Caribbean Group acquire a 50% shareholding in Caribbean hospitality giant Sandals Resorts International has emerged as a potential game-changer for the stalled redevelopment of a closed resort in the Bahamas’ Exuma region, according to the country’s tourism minister. Cheste Cooper, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Exuma, told local media this week that the fresh capital injection from the major global cruise operator is set to unlock long-awaited progress on the conversion of the shuttered Sandals Emerald Bay property into the new Beaches Exuma family resort.
Royal Caribbean’s widely reported agreement to purchase half of Sandals Resorts International, first announced in recent weeks, is on track to finalize in early 2027. Once completed, the transaction will bring all 20 of Sandals’ existing Caribbean resorts into a new joint venture between the two travel and leisure leaders. For the Exuma project, which has remained idle since the original Sandals Emerald Bay closed its doors in August 2024, Cooper said the deepened financial backing from Royal Caribbean makes the full redevelopment all but certain.
The overhaul project is projected to require more than $100 million in total investment to transform the property into a premium family-friendly Beaches-branded destination. Planned upgrades include expanded and updated guest accommodations, new specialty dining outlets, a large-scale water park, new recreational sports facilities, and a range of modern visitor amenities that align with the Beaches brand’s family-focused value proposition. Cooper emphasized that the new capital from the joint venture is expected to flow directly into this project, and could also unlock additional tourism-focused investment across the Bahamas in the coming years.
Beyond direct financial support, the MP and tourism minister laid out a compelling strategic case for the partnership, highlighting a unique opportunity to create integrated cruise-and-stay vacation packages that leverage Royal Caribbean’s industry-leading cruise operations and Sandals’ reputation for premium all-inclusive resort hospitality. As one of the world’s largest cruise line operators, Royal Caribbean already brings more cruise passengers to Bahamian ports than almost any other competitor, creating a natural synergy with the company’s new resort holdings.
“This pairing of Royal Caribbean’s global transportation network with Sandals’ world-class hospitality creates a true win-win outcome that will benefit not just Exuma, but also New Providence and every Bahamian island that hosts Sandals properties,” Cooper noted. He added that as the representative for Exuma, he welcomes the agreement and is optimistic about the economic and employment gains it will deliver for local residents.
Cooper also reflected on Sandals’ long-standing legacy as a homegrown Caribbean brand that has grown into a global hospitality leader. Founded in 1981 by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Sandals now operates a portfolio of all-inclusive properties across the Caribbean under both its flagship Sandals adults-only brand and the family-focused Beaches brand, with locations spanning Jamaica, the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and multiple other regional destinations. “This is a Caribbean-born brand that has gone global, and that’s something to be proud of,” Cooper said. “I’ve seen firsthand how much it has contributed to the Exuma community over decades, and I’m excited to see what this next chapter brings.”