Executive chair Adam Stewart was joined by Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness to mark the occasion on Wednesday (26 May).
The first phase of the US $230 million project will involve a total transformation of Sandals Dunn’s River.
The resort was originally acquired by the group in 1990 and returns to the Sandals’ portfolio under the same name.
Sandals plans to complete the work on the new-look Sandals Dunn’s River resort by Q4 2022.
The second phase of the work will involve creating an adjacent sister property, Sandals Royal Dunn’s River, slated for completion in 2023.
“This is an extraordinary day for Sandals Resorts and a moment of deep meaning for my family," said Stewart. "We stand near where my father grew up, a place that was close to his heart.
"As we embark on our strategic growth plans, we are proud to bring to life his vision through this incredible property. There will simply be nothing like it."
The works come after Stewart’s father, Sandals founder Gordon ’Butch’ Stewart, passed away earlier this year.
Stewart said the new Sandals Dunn’s River was the last project on which he collaborated with his father.
"Jamaica means land of wood and water and in Ocho Rios, the sound of moving water from Dunn’s River and Roaring Waters River is part of the experience. This is the sound that will greet guests upon arrival," he said.
The resort will offer 260 rooms, including 48 SkyPool suites and 12 swim-up Rondoval suites, as well as 10 restaurants, nine bars and seven pools, including two river pools.
"When this resort became available, my father and I jumped at the chance to reclaim it and bring it back into the fold where it belongs," said Stewart.
"Although he cannot be with us to see its ultimate transformation, he always will be a part of everything we do. His fingerprints are on this project and he fully embraced our plans to set a new standard of luxury in Jamaica."
Sandals Resort International will also invest more than US $250 million in renovating a third new location in Ocho Rios, Beaches Runaway Bay Resort.
The hotel will feature around 400 one, two, three and four-bedroom suites, designed for families, and will also offer access to Runaway Bay Golf Club.
Jamaica’s minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, welcomed Sandals’ expansion plans in the country.
"The acquisition and development of three new Sandals [Resorts International] properties in Ocho Rios is yet another example of the significant investments we are seeing in Jamaica that will enhance our tourism infrastructure, increase our offerings and ultimately job opportunities for our workers," he said.
