MONTEGO BAY, St James — Hotel chain RIU has announced a US$1-million relief package for its more than 4,000 employees in Jamaica who have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking on Wednesday during a briefing at RIU Montego Bay, Somae Pitkin Shakes, human resources manager for the group’s Montego Bay properties, noted that more than 80 per cent of RIU’s US$1 million aid package has been allocated directly to staff. This includes US$570,000 for rebuilding homes and US$230,000 in immediate relief supplies.

Additionally, the company has established an interest-free credit line valued at US$1.3 million for employees facing further hardship.

Pitkin Shakes added that nearly 800 staff members have already filed home damage reports, and efforts continue to contact those still unreachable.

The remaining portion of the funding has been allocated to community support, including a US$200,000 partnership with the Jamaica Basic Schools Foundation to supply humanitarian aid to underserved areas.

RIU has also teamed up with World Central Kitchen to prepare and distribute up to 8,000 hot meals daily in affected communities, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities, Pitkin Shakes announced.

Meanwhile, RIU Sales Director Niurka Garcia Linton confirmed the resumption of services from Sunwing Vacations in Canada beginning November 20, followed by TUI Group’s confirmation that they will be resuming their operation out of the UK on November 24 and out of the Netherlands on December 2.

With RIU Ocho Rios already fully operational, RIU Montego Bay will reopen on November 23 with RIU Palace Jamaica the following day. The remaining properties are expected to reopen by mid-December, with full portfolio restoration anticipated before year-end.

“We understand the importance of having tourism up and running. We understand that the quicker we open all our properties, the quicker we will have the staff coming back, the economy in Jamaica stabilising,” Garcia Linton said.

“So while we’re working tirelessly to ensure that our properties are open, I believe that the objective of our brand is to have all properties open before the end of 2025. So hopefully we will be able to share with you the confirmed opening day for the rest of the properties,” she added.

Garcia Linton also praised the resilience of RIU employees and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from global leadership, travel partners, and repeat guests who used social media to check on staff and express confidence in Jamaica as a destination.

Meanwhile, Pitkin Shakes commended staff for what she described as remarkable professionalism as they worked through the height of the hurricane to safeguard thousands of guests staying across RIU’s seven properties.

“We have to take into consideration that RIU in Jamaica has 4,274 rooms in seven hotels, and in the midst of the hurricane, we had 5,000 guests. This gives you an idea of the great challenges the operational team had faced. Until all our guests could return home, we had this great responsibility to take care of our own and our clients. Thankfully, we think we did well,” she said.

Somae Pitkin Shakes, human resources manager for RIU Montego Bay properties Horace Hines

Hotel employees during a press conference at RIU Montego Bay on Wednesday. (Photo: Horace Hines)