Catalonia Montego Bay Enters the Marriott Era
One of Montego Bay’s best-known beachfront properties is preparing for a major transformation into a Marriott Hotels all-inclusive resort expected to open in 2028.
A Familiar Resort Begins a New Chapter
Montego Bay is preparing to welcome a major new Marriott Hotels all-inclusive resort, but the beachfront property behind the announcement already carries generations of Jamaican tourism history.
Marriott International and Catalonia Hotels & Resorts have entered into an agreement to convert Catalonia Montego Bay into a Marriott-branded all-inclusive destination.
The resort is expected to open in 2028 following a substantial redevelopment. Plans include 522 guest rooms, 13 dining venues, three pools, a lazy river, wellness and sports facilities, and approximately 12,917 square feet of meeting and event space.
The Marriott name will introduce the resort to a larger international audience while connecting the property to the Marriott Bonvoy travel ecosystem.
For Jamaica, the announcement represents another important vote of confidence in Montego Bay’s position as one of the Caribbean’s leading resort destinations.
It Was the Holiday Inn
Long before the Catalonia name appeared, the property was known to generations of visitors as the Holiday Inn Montego Bay and later the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay.
Its story reaches back to the late 1960s, when Montego Bay’s modern hotel and resort industry was entering an important period of growth.
Over the decades, the resort became especially familiar to families seeking an all-inclusive beachfront vacation close to Sangster International Airport.
From Holiday Inn to Marriott
The planned conversion represents the latest stage in the evolution of one of Montego Bay’s most familiar all-inclusive properties.
The Holiday Inn Story Begins
The resort emerged during the period when Montego Bay was developing into a major international Caribbean vacation destination.
A Familiar Family Resort
The beachfront property became widely recognized for family vacations, all-inclusive stays and its convenient location near the airport.
Catalonia Arrives
Catalonia Hotels & Resorts acquired the former Holiday Inn property and began the next stage of its redevelopment and repositioning.
Marriott All-Inclusive
The transformed property is planned to open under the Marriott Hotels brand with expanded rooms, dining, recreation and event facilities.
Far More Than a Change of Name
The proposed Marriott resort represents a major redevelopment rather than a simple rebranding of the existing property.
What It Could Mean for Travelers
The conversion could influence loyalty travel, group business and competition across Montego Bay’s all-inclusive resort market.
Marriott Bonvoy Access
The resort is expected to become a new Jamaica option for travelers who prefer Marriott Hotels and participate in Marriott Bonvoy.
More Group Potential
Expanded meeting and event facilities could attract destination weddings, conferences, incentive groups and major celebrations.
Greater Resort Competition
Marriott’s arrival may encourage additional investment and upgrades throughout Montego Bay’s established resort corridor.
Arriving in Montego Bay Should Feel Effortless
The beachfront property is located along Montego Bay’s eastern hotel corridor, within convenient driving distance of Sangster International Airport.
Future guests can arrange private Montego Bay Airport Transportation before traveling to Jamaica.
Travelers seeking personalized arrival coordination, private vehicles and islandwide service may also reserve Best Jamaica Airport Transportation for direct service between MBJ Airport and hotels, villas and resorts across Jamaica.
Some resorts change names. A few become part of a destination’s history.
From its beginnings as the Holiday Inn in the late 1960s, through its acquisition by Catalonia and its planned transformation into a Marriott All-Inclusive Resort, this beachfront property continues to evolve alongside Montego Bay itself.
