A Year After Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica Is Ready for You 💛
Jamaica is back, and it's every bit as warm as you remember. I know because I just spent October 20–24 there, and I came home with a full camera roll and an even fuller heart.
On Episode 41 of Theme Parks & Passports, I sat down with Francine Carter Henry, manager of tour operations and airlines for the Jamaica Tourist Board, to talk about how the island has recovered since Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025. Soon after, I headed to Negril with my host agency, Envoyage, to see it for myself. This post pulls it all together: what Francine shared, what I saw, and the day in Green Island I will never forget.
Envoyage Summit 2026 at Princess Grand Jamaica
Envoyage Summit 2026 took us to Negril, which Francine lovingly calls "the capital of casual," and our home base for the week was the Princess Grand Jamaica. It was my first trip back to the island since the hurricane, so I was eager to see the recovery up close.
Between summit sessions, we toured resorts and got a firsthand look at how the destination has bounced back.
Francine told me hotel teams now greet guests as if you're the reason they're still here. And I felt this love and hospitality throughout my entire stay! That spirit of gratitude is what makes Jamaica special.
My favorite resort tour was Beaches Jamaica Negril!
A beautiful, wide beach you can actually walk. Space to spread out together — and space to be apart, too. Pools for lazy mornings, the beach for afternoons, and dinners where no one has to cook or clean up.
What stood out most on my tour was how easy it feels for families. Kids have room to play and be kids, parents actually get to relax, and everything is close — beach, pools, restaurants, all in one place. It's the kind of resort where the vacation doesn't need a vacation after it.
And my favorite part of the day? Meeting the Sesame Street characters Zoe and Abby Cadabby 🪄
Give Back Day: The Side of Tourism You Don't Usually See 💛
One day of the trip wasn't about conference rooms or resort tours at all. With help from the Jamaica Tourist Board, our group spent our Give Back Day in Green Island, a community still rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa.
At the library, we read to the children, then helped lay bricks for the renovation that will give the building new life. Next door at the school, we had playground time and a dance party I will never forget.
This is the part of travel I wish everyone could experience. It's not just about seeing a destination. It's about connecting with it: its people, its recovery, its heart.
What Francine Shared on the Podcast
Francine manages the U.S. market for the Jamaica Tourist Board, and it matters: she shared that about 75% of Jamaica's visitors come from the U.S. Here's what stood out from our conversation:
- Recovery is well underway. About 90% of the island's accommodation rooms are back online. Montego Bay, which has the largest inventory of rooms, is around 80%, and the goal is full recovery in the coming weeks to months.
- The impact was concentrated. The storm made landfall in the southwest, then exited along the north coast, which is why Montego Bay-area resorts felt it most. Kingston and the east side of the island were largely spared.
- The turnaround was fast. Kingston's airport reopened for relief flights on October 29. Montego Bay's airport reopened for relief on October 30, and commercial flights returned on November 1.
- Tours and attractions bounced back even faster. Jamaica has actually added new tours since the storm.
- Many hotels reopened better than before. Francine said some used the time to complete enhancements and refurbishments that might not have happened so soon.
My favorite story from the episode: two weeks after the hurricane, Francine visited a resort in Negril and saw a staff member sweeping up leaves with his music playing, dancing with his broom between sweeps. Her takeaway was the word she kept coming back to: resilience.
Planning Your Own Jamaica Trip
If you or your clients have been hesitant, here is my honest take: go. Jamaica is ready to welcome you, and after my visit, I couldn't agree more. A few tips:
- Your visit is the biggest way to give back. Hotel stays and local tours support jobs, families, transportation, and the airports that keep the island connected.
- Want to do more? Visit supportjamaica.gov.jm for donations, or ask your resort about the local charities it already supports. The Jamaica Tourist Board also lists volunteer opportunities at visitjamaica.com/experiences.
- Traveling with kids? The family volunteer program is being revamped, so check with the Jamaica Tourist Board for current family-friendly options.
- Pack light. Negril is casual and warm year-round, so leave the sweaters at home.
If you're dreaming of Jamaica, whether it's a family getaway, a romantic escape, or a trip with purpose, I'd love to help you plan it. Reach out to me at Spellbound Vacations, LLC. Service fees may apply.
You can hear the full conversation with Francine on Theme Parks & Passports, Episode 41. Links are in the show notes.
