Sandals Resorts International will be offering complimentary COVID-19 testing beginning January 26, 2021 through March 31, 2021, to all registered guests across its Sandals and Beaches Resorts on-resort prior to their departure. This announcement comes on the heels of the new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) policy requiring international travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test prior to their return to the U.S. Tests will be conducted by certified medical professionals, with appointments being offered with minimal distraction to the overall vacation experience. Tests will be done at least 72 hours before guests' departure, and test results will be available within 24 hours.
This new on-resort testing is an expansion of the Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness, the company's program of heightened health and safety measures that address changing consumer expectations amidst the pandemic.
In the unfortunate event that a guest should test positive for COVID-19 prior to departure, all resorts are equipped with medical stations staffed daily with a registered nurse and 24/7 on-call medical personnel. Through the Travel Protection Insurance that Sandals offers, guests are covered for an extension of their stay to quarantine and to receive any necessary medical treatment for up to 14 nights at no extra cost.
In addition, Sandals Resorts International has announced that Adam Stewart, son of the company's late chairman Gordon "Butch" Stewart, has been appointed executive chairman. He assumes the role after working alongside his father for more than two decades, serving as CEO and most recently as deputy chairman. In 2009, Adam spearheaded the launch of the Sandals Foundation, created to support the local communities through education, health care and environmental protection.
