Employment opportunities being created with Sandals’ new addition

 

A total of 1 700 persons will be employed during the construction phase of the new Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa Expansion Project, which will be 100% built by Barbadian contractors and tradesmen.

 

Terence Des Vignes, Senior Project Manager for Sandals Resorts International, made the announcement yesterday as he delivered remarks at the official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the expansion project, on location at the development site, just beyond the entrance of Maxwell Coast Road in Christ Church.

 

 “While we are just breaking ground, this expansion is the single largest investment and project to date done by Sandals. Fifteen months ago, Sandals opened its first ultra-luxury all-inclusive resort in Barbados. Today, we commence the resort expansion by adding 222 new luxury suites. We are also constructing five additional restaurants, a new spa and wellness sanctuary, state-of-the- art 

conference facilities, an entertainment pavilion [and] three swimming pools,” Des Vignes remarked.

 

“We are proud to say that this project will be 100% built by Barbadians contractors and tradesmen. We have been fortunate to have found the necessary skills here in Barbados to construct a project of this size and craftsmanship. 

 

 “It is important for us to foster the partnership with our local (partners) throughout this project. We have awarded the contract for this project to both Shelbury and JADA, supported by their subcontractors,” Des Vignes further commented.

 

“We look forward to working with our contractors to get this show on the road and we have full confidence that that our contractors will finish this project as scheduled and we know they will do a great job,” he added.

 

He meanwhile noted that the expansion is scheduled to be completed by November 30, 2017. He also revealed that the project will employ 1 200 workers and a support staff of 500, for a total of 1700 employed.

 

CEO of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart meanwhile said that with the new expansion, some 520 new jobs will be added and of that number, there will be 60 different disciplines that employees will be trained to do. He noted that the training and development programme will start six months in advance and Sandals will take over 100 Barbadians and sprinkle them all over the Caribbean in preparation for the opening of its new site, to ensure that it has a hotel that is second to none.

 

  The two projects represent a combined $U 245 Million and stands on 14 acres.