Beaches Resorts Expands to Meet Family Travel Demand

Skift

13-05-2025

With multigenerational travel on the rise, Beaches Resorts is expanding across the Caribbean and redefining the all-inclusive family vacation through smart design, inclusive programming, and a focus on ease for every age.
This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner.
With the summer travel season fast approaching, family vacations are top of mind. Skift Research shows that 31% of travelers are interested in multi-generational travel that includes parents, in-laws, and children. Meanwhile, IPX1031's Travel Outlook Survey reveals that 57% of Americans plan to take longer trips in 2025, signaling a shift toward more immersive vacations centered on quality time together.
As families seek connection, comfort, and convenience amid rising costs and economic uncertainty, premium all-inclusive brands are uniquely positioned to thrive. According to data shared by Expedia Group, searches on Hotels.com using the 'all-inclusive' filter jumped 60% year over year.
Beaches Resorts is ramping up capacity to meet that demand. The family-friendly arm of Sandals Resorts International is investing nearly $1 billion in a bold Caribbean expansion. But for Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, growth isn't just about scale — it's about building spaces that make it easy for families to truly unwind and reconnect.
'Multi-generational travel isn't a trend we're reacting to,' Stewart said. 'It's something we've anticipated for years, because we've watched generations of Sandals guests return to us with kids, then grandkids.'
Tailored for Families, Designed for All Ages
Founded in 1997, Beaches Resorts was built to translate Sandals' all-inclusive ease into a resort experience that works for families. While some travelers may not know the two brands are connected, they share the same commitment to service, design, and local Caribbean expertise — tailored for different life stages.
Stewart credits the company's success to staying relentlessly focused on purpose-built design for each of those life stages. 'Everything has to serve someone — whether it's a toddler, a teen, or a grandparent,' he said. 'When you get that right, families can feel free, relaxed, and safe, all at the same time. Parents want ease, kids want adventure, and grandparents want comfort. Beaches is designed to offer all three.'
Care and Support Across the Spectrum
At Beaches Resorts, even toddlers under two are welcome in the kids' camps — no potty training required and no added fees. It's a rare offering in hospitality, made even more reassuring by the fact that staff are certified by the International Nanny Association.
In addition, the resorts are autism-certified through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), with sensory-friendly accommodations, events, and activities. Kids' camps are staffed by counselors trained in autism sensitivity and feature programming developed with Sesame Workshop, including interactive experiences with Julia, a Sesame Street character with autism.
'We realized very quickly that inclusivity wasn't just a box to check — it was a philosophy that touched everything,' Stewart said. 'Everyone deserves to enjoy the Caribbean, no matter their needs or challenges.'
That philosophy extends to layout and design. Beaches Resorts are intentionally built on flat terrain so elderly guests can traverse easily, with expansive beachfront access, wide paths, and thoughtful separation between quiet and high-energy zones. The result is freedom — for children to roam and explore and for adults to breathe easy.
'We want our resorts to be fully controlled and safe,' Stewart said. 'Peace of mind is a brand standard.'
Building for Today's Family Travel Moment
With inclusivity and intentional design at its core, Beaches Resorts is now scaling that vision across the Caribbean. The brand's nearly $1 billion expansion plan introduces five major developments, each tailored to the evolving needs of modern families.
These include Beaches Barbados, a 600-room property featuring a lively 'Main Street' hub for dining and entertainment; Beaches Exuma in The Bahamas, a reimagined resort with multi-bedroom villas and direct access to the island's crystalline waters; Beaches Runaway Bay in Jamaica, designed for extended families with large suites and immersive activities; and the Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks & Caicos, adding 101 new suites — including beachside villas for up to 10 guests — and the brand's first-ever food hall.
Beaches Exuma
Planning for the fifth expansion is already underway at Beaches Negril, where the resort is set to add 100 new family suites and beachfront villas. This follows the debut of two standout accommodation categories — the Firesky Reserve Villas and Eventide Penthouse Collection — designed to offer expansive layouts, private plunge pools, rooftop terraces, and plenty of room for families to gather, unwind, and reconnect.
'We believe the Caribbean is having its best moment ever,' Stewart said. 'It's easy to get to, beautiful, and reliable — and we've spent more time perfecting Caribbean excellence than anyone else. The expansion is our response to what families are asking for.'
Scaling With Purpose
As Beaches builds for the future, it's also reinforcing its longstanding commitment to the Caribbean. In its newly released Corporate Social Responsibility Report, parent company Sandals Resorts International outlines four decades of environmental stewardship, community investment, and educational support across the region.
Through the Sandals Foundation, the company has invested $115 million in programs that have impacted 1.7 million people — from planting coral and reforesting coastlines to supporting farmers, fishers, and local artisans.
'Many people don't realize Sandals is a family company, born in Jamaica,' Stewart said. 'Every stay at Beaches supports a larger promise — one that benefits local communities, schoolchildren, and ecosystems across the region.'
A Family Legacy, Rooted in the Caribbean
More than anything, the Beaches expansion reflects the Stewart family's personal connection to the Caribbean with a mission to elevate the region's hospitality — and keep it authentically Caribbean.
'Everything starts with the places and the people,' Stewart said. 'We've spent decades acquiring the best beachfront properties — and we train our teams from the ground up. We even cover the cost of their education, all the way through a master's degree, because we believe that when our team thrives, our guests feel it.'
That long-term perspective has allowed Beaches Resorts to expand with intention, focusing on quality over speed. Some of the new resorts are built on land the company has held for decades, waiting for the right moment to develop.
Guests, too, have grown with the brand. 'We see families year after year. One of our butlers was recently invited to a wedding in Boston by a family he's been caring for since their daughter was a little girl,' Stewart shared. 'That kind of connection doesn't happen just anywhere.'
Beaches Runaway Bay
Making Memories This Summer
Looking ahead to the 2025 summer season, Stewart remains optimistic. 'The Caribbean always wins in times of instability,' he said.
While global uncertainty may make long-haul travel less appealing, the Caribbean's proximity and reliability are powerful draws — especially for families seeking a break from stress, screens, and schedules.
'We compete against the world — Europe, safaris, cruise lines, theme parks,' Stewart said. 'But at the end of the day, the question is: Did your vacation leave you feeling more connected? Did your kids have fun? Did you actually get to relax? That's the experience we're building.'
And for many families, that's the kind of vacation that keeps them coming back year after year.
For the latest news and information about Beaches Resorts, click here.
This content was created collaboratively by Sandals Resorts and Skift's branded content studio, SkiftX.