Sandals Grande Riveria was officially relaunched and renamed Sandals Ochi Beach Resort on Saturday, a day after the property — the largest in the Sandals chain — was unveiled to travel agents, repeat guests and local and international media representatives.

The property underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and was rebuilt to offer a dynamic beach experience, complete with stylish beach club vibes and innovative culinary concepts.

“Sandals Ochi Beach Resort is a game-changer for the all-inclusive resort experience in Jamaica,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, the Founder and Chairman of Sandals Resorts International — the parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts.

“With the relaunch, we’ve not only enhanced the resort, but did so with a re-imagined guest experience in mind, solidifying Sandals Ochi as Jamaica’s most comprehensive resort in the region.

“We’re leading the next generation of resorts in Jamaica, and while others may try to follow, we will continue to do what we do best: exceed guest expectations,” stated Stewart, who is also chairman of the Jamaica Observer.

Among the offerings of the revamped resort, which sits on more than 100 acres overlooking the Caribbean Sea, are dining experiences at 16 restaurants, 11 bars, the Caribbean’s largest rock climbing wall, 529 villas, luxury rooms and suites — including Romeo and Juliet villas that come complete with inside pools.

The US$60-million renovation also included the Caribbean’s first Speakeasy, which was opened Saturday.

“Speakeasy came up through the 1920s through prohibition, everything in there is super premium,” CEO of Sandals Resorts International Adam Stewart explained on Friday, ahead of the official opening. “We are going to order alcohol off of iPads, with specialty ice menus, with boutique bootleg liquors that we are importing from all over the world to bring those days back.”

The CEO said the move to revamp and build on the Sandals product is as a result of repeat guests inspiring them to do better and think bigger, and do more each time.

“We are celebrating our 34th year this year at Sandals Resorts, we have been voted world’s best 20 years in a row, we are at the peak of all-inclusives and our concept is very simple, the most important persons to us are all of you guests that come back year after year after year, that are our ultimate shareholders,” the younger Stewart said while speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday.

He said that Sandals Resorts is the largest employer in the Caribbean, employing more than 13,000 Caribbean nationals full-time, and is the largest private taxpayer in Jamaica and the six islands in which it operates, except for The Bahamas.

“We wanted to say thank you, to have an event with our media and travel partners, with the people that make this possible everyday of life,” he said.

The resort hosted the travel agents and media representatives for the weekend, which began with cocktails at the renovated resort and dinner at the Jerk Shack — one of the resort’s new restaurants that offers authentic Jamaican cuisine — before ending the night at a beach party that saw the chairman, the CEO, members of the management team, and Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook cutting a ribbon to mark the opening of the resort. Impressive fireworks topped it all on Friday night, followed by the official launch Saturday and a tour of the property.

When the Observer spoke to travel agents and media representatives at Friday night’s events, the reviews were positive.

Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill, at the official launch on Saturday, congratulated ‘Butch’ Stewart and his staff for the “tremendous job they are doing”, stating that Sandals Resorts is an excellent partner for Jamaica.