by Brian Major
Last updated: 3:00 PM ET, Wed December 17, 2025
Hyatt Hotels Corporation extended the closure of several
Jamaica-based hotels, raising concern at a workers’ union over the uncertainty
facing thousands of tourism workers, according to a Jamaica Gleaner report.
Hyatt officials said that following a detailed assessment of
the physical damage Hurricane Melissa caused at the properties in October, it is
opting to extend the suspension of operations at seven major resorts until
November 1, 2026, ten months later than the previously announced February 2026
date.
The affected hotels are Breathless Montego Bay Resort &
Spa, Dreams Rose Hall Resort & Spa, Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Rose
Hall, Secrets St James Montego Bay, Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, and Jewel
Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa.
A prolonged shutdown of these premium properties would
remove a substantial block of rooms from Jamaica’s hospitality inventory, said Bustamante
Industrial Trade Union (BITU) officials, placing a severe strain on hotel
workers, their families and the wider economy.
BITU expressed concern that workers were being treated as “collateral damage” during the recovery process, noting that thousands of employees are now left uncertain about income security, access to benefits, and job retention once hotels reopen. BITU said a critical gap exists for employees at Hyatt-affiliated properties who are not unionized.
“Hyatt, as a major global hospitality brand and a key
partner in Jamaica’s tourism industry, has a responsibility to clearly state
the fate of these workers and outline the concrete measures that will be put in
place to protect them during this prolonged closure period,” the union said.
BITU also warned that the country’s still-fragile tourism industry is ill-equipped to handle the potential fallout from the resort closures, including on airlift, visitor arrivals, tourism-linked services, and foreign exchange earnings. The union has called for Hyatt to publicly outline a comprehensive worker-protection plan for all affected employees, both unionized and non-unionized, and to commit to transparent communication throughout the closure period.
BITU said it stands ready to engage constructively with Hyatt and the Ministry of Tourism to help ensure that tourism workers are protected and retained as the sector recovers.
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