Resort to Reopen December 8; Supports More Than 500 People Daily During Recovery Efforts
Thankfully, Montego Bay’s iconic Round Hill Hotel & Villas sustained only minimal impact to its facilities as a result of Hurricane Melissa. However, given the considerable challenges affecting the surrounding community, including local roads and infrastructure, the resort has temporarily closed and will reopen its doors on December 8, 2025. Until then, the resort has turned its attention to caring for its team members, their families and essential workers who helped the resort fare so well during the storm. The resort’s Board of Directors and Executive Team have responded with an extraordinary commitment to staff as well as the local Hanover Parish community, demonstrating a level of hospitality that goes far beyond service and reflecting true care, compassion, and leadership during a time of crisis.
Under the guidance of Managing Director Josef Forstmayr, who has served Round Hill and the wider community for four decades, the resort has been operating as a vital support hub. Every day, the team is preparing and serving meals to more than 500 people, including employees and their families, long-term contracted staff and their loved ones, and members of the local Hopewell police force.
Many Round Hill team members suffered severe home damage, with some losing their houses entirely. The resort has opened its doors to employees and their families who have been displaced, providing safe accommodation and essential care on-property.
“Our staff is the heart of Round Hill,” said Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director. “In times like these, hospitality must be about humanity. Taking care of one another is not only our responsibility, it is who we are.”
Round Hill’s Board of Directors has activated direct financial support for employees and long standing contracted workers, ensuring stability during a period of immense personal upheaval.
In a letter to staff, Board Chairman Mr. Stephen Lari shared, “As we begin the recovery process, we want to remind everyone that you are not alone. Our hotel family, including our shareholders, have always stood together through challenges, and this time is no different.”
With the season of gratitude approaching, Round Hill stands as a powerful reminder of how compassion brings people together and strengthens communities. The resort looks forward to welcoming guests back beginning December 8, entering the winter season with renewed purpose and a commitment to shining even brighter for Jamaica and for travellers around the world.
As a token of appreciation, the resort is launching a special Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale to help restore the livelihoods of its employees and support the long-term healing of the community. Ensuring every team member can return to meaningful work remains one of the resort’s highest priorities. Round Hill will offer savings of 35 percent off, plus 20 percent off spa, for stays from December 8, 2025 to December 21, 2026. This offer must be booked between November 28 and December 1, 2025. Five percent of all the proceeds will benefit the Round Hill Employee Relief Fund, a vital resource for team members to rebuild after Hurricane Melissa.
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About Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Boasting a rich history of welcoming distinguished guests with authentically warm, genuine island hospitality, Round Hill Hotel and Villas has been setting the standard for luxury in Montego Bay since 1953. Nestled on 110 verdant acres of former pineapple groves, the resort’s ocean-view rooms and suites have been thoughtfully designed and inspired by Ralph Lauren. Guests can savor local Jamaican cuisine at the Seaside Terrace restaurant, sip carefully crafted cocktails at three distinctive bar concepts and even dine in-villa for the ultimate in private dining. Offering an idyllic base from which to explore the area, guests can raft down tropical rivers, zipline through lush island foliage or dance the night away on a private sunset cruise. For younger guests, the resort offers a supervised children’s program and on-site nanny services. The Round Hill Spa features Elemis aromatherapy products as well as an extensive treatment menu infused with natural and indigenous influences. Five tennis courts, an open-air yoga pavilion and a state-of-the-art fitness centre boasting sweeping ocean views from panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows ensure guests can maintain their active lifestyles while vacationing in paradise. For more information, visit www.roundhill.com.
