By the Pixie Vacations Advisor Team — Sandals & Beaches Platinum-level specialists who have visited all 17 Sandals & Beaches resorts and booked Jamaica all-inclusive stays for more than 20 years. Last updated: July 2026.
Marriott all-inclusive Montego Bay: what was announced
Marriott is bringing its first all-inclusive resort to Montego Bay, converting a 522-room beachfront property near Sangster International Airport into a Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort set to open in 2028. The plans call for 13 restaurants, three pools, a spa and a lazy river along more than 2,100 feet of Jamaican shoreline.
Marriott International announced the project on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as part of a dual agreement with Barcelona-based Catalonia Hotels & Resorts. According to Marriott’s news release, the deal also adds an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania — a 271-room new build slated for 2027.
The Montego Bay site is the former Holiday Inn Resort, which Catalonia acquired in May 2024. Beyond the dining and pools, the reimagined resort is planned to include nearly 13,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, and tennis and pickleball courts — signaling a play for both families and groups.
Quick Facts
- Property: Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort, Montego Bay (former Holiday Inn Resort)
- Location: Beachfront near Sangster International Airport (MBJ)
- Rooms: 522
- Amenities: 13 restaurants; three pools; lazy river; spa; ~13,000 sq ft of meeting space; tennis and pickleball
- Opening: 2028
- Operator: Catalonia Hotels & Resorts, under the Marriott brand
- Companion project: Autograph Collection All-Inclusive, Zanzibar — 271 rooms, 2027
An advisor’s take: it’s really a Marriott Bonvoy play
Here’s the angle the wire stories skip. The biggest difference between a Marriott all-inclusive and Montego Bay’s marquee couples resorts isn’t the pools — it’s points. Marriott’s all-inclusive resorts participate in Marriott Bonvoy, so travelers can expect to earn and redeem points on an all-inclusive stay. Independent all-inclusive brands like Sandals don’t offer a comparable points currency. For loyalty members who already bank Bonvoy nights, another flagship in Jamaica is a meaningful addition.
The catch: 2028 is a long way off, and conversions can slip. If you want a Bonvoy-eligible all-inclusive in Montego Bay sooner, Marriott already operates Autograph Collection all-inclusive resorts in the area today.
| Montego Bay all-inclusive | Style | Loyalty points | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Marriott All-Inclusive Resort | Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive | Marriott Bonvoy | Opens 2028 |
| Royalton Blue Waters (+ adults-only Hideaway) | Autograph Collection All-Inclusive | Marriott Bonvoy | Open now |
| Sandals Montego Bay / Royal Caribbean | Luxury, couples-only | No points program | Reopening late 2026 after renovation |
| Half Moon | Luxury independent | No chain points | Open now (reopened 2026) |
Montego Bay was already one of Americans’ top-searched Caribbean destinations for summer 2026, and Jamaica is pushing a multi-billion-dollar hotel pipeline that includes the recently reopened Half Moon. A 522-room Marriott flagship is another vote of confidence in the north coast. For more on the island, see our Jamaica travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
When will Marriott’s all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay open?
Marriott’s first all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay is slated to open in 2028. Marriott and Catalonia Hotels & Resorts announced the project on July 23, 2026.
What property is Marriott converting in Montego Bay?
The 522-room beachfront resort near Sangster International Airport is the former Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay, which Catalonia Hotels & Resorts acquired in May 2024 and will operate as a Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort.
How big will the Marriott all-inclusive in Montego Bay be?
It is planned for 522 rooms, 13 restaurants, three pools, a spa, a lazy river, a fitness center, and tennis and pickleball courts, plus nearly 13,000 square feet of meeting space along more than 2,100 feet of shoreline.
Will the Marriott Montego Bay all-inclusive earn Marriott Bonvoy points?
Marriott’s all-inclusive resorts participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, so guests can generally expect to earn and redeem points — a distinction from independent all-inclusive brands such as Sandals, which do not offer a comparable points currency.
Are there Marriott all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay right now?
Yes. Marriott already operates Autograph Collection all-inclusive resorts in the Montego Bay area, including Royalton Blue Waters and its adults-only Hideaway, which are open and bookable today ahead of the new 2028 flagship.
What else did Marriott and Catalonia announce?
Alongside the Jamaica project, the companies announced a new-build Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania — a 271-room wellness-focused property scheduled to open in 2027.
Planning a Jamaica all-inclusive before 2028 — or weighing Bonvoy points against a couples-only Sandals stay? The Pixie Vacations advisor team books every major Montego Bay resort at no added fee and can match the resort to how you like to travel.
