Montego Bay's Hip Strip is getting a fresh arrival: Marriott's design-led AC Hotels brand is planning its first MoBay property on Kent Avenue, on the old site of the Sandals Carlyle, with a target opening in 2027.
The plan is appealing in its simplicity. Every one of the 165 rooms will face the Caribbean Sea, and up top there's a Sky Terrace Bar built for sunset-watching over the water. Sandals Resorts International — whose executive chairman Adam Stewart announced the project in June 2025 alongside Marriott's franchise signing — says the design takes its cues from Caribbean reefs.
Location is the real selling point. Kent Avenue sits right on the Hip Strip, the lively stretch of Montego Bay anchored by Doctor's Cave Beach, where you can swim all afternoon then wander to nearby bars and restaurants. Sangster International Airport is only about half a mile away, which makes this a genuinely easy option for a short break — land, drop your bags, and be on the beach in minutes.
There's also a notable twist for anyone used to Jamaica's hotel scene. While Montego Bay is dominated by all-inclusive resorts, the AC will run on a European Plan: room only, with meals and drinks bought separately. That frees you up to eat where you like — a jerk chicken shack on the strip, a fish fry down the road, or a nicer table in town — rather than staying put at the hotel. For travellers who find all-inclusive pricing steep or restrictive, it adds a flexible mid-range choice to a market that doesn't have many.
It won't be Marriott's first AC in Jamaica. AC Hotel Kingston opened in 2019, and the Montego Bay property extends the brand to the island's north coast, covering both the capital and the main resort gateway.
MoBay's 2027 calendar is getting crowded, too. The adults-only UNICO 18°77° Montego Bay, with 451 rooms, has reservations open for a March 1, 2027 debut — so travellers will have two new flags to choose from in the same year. The AC hasn't confirmed a date beyond the year itself.
Who should care? If you like the idea of a stylish, sea-view room within walking distance of a famous beach, without committing to an all-inclusive package, this one belongs on your watchlist. Keep an eye out for opening rates once a firm date lands.
