Sandals Resorts International (SRI) says it is accelerating plans to expand the family-friendly Beaches Resorts brand with the development of Beaches Exuma. The first Beaches in the Bahamas will replace Sandals Emerald Bay, which will close on Aug. 15 to undergo the transformation and rebranding before reopening in the fall.

“Exuma was made for families and with more than 6,000 feet of shoreline, the new Beaches Exuma will be a gateway to discovering the incomparable beauty of this part of The Bahamas,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, noting the destination’s “inspiring playgrounds — from swimming pigs, majestic sea turtles, sandbars and so much more.”

Originally developed as a family-oriented resort when it opened over two decades ago, the existing Sandals property maintains an ideal layout of beaches, pools, and areas for family-oriented play spaces and amenities across its expansive oceanfront acreage.

Exuma is also a natural wonder renowned for its marine ecosystems and sea life, crystal clear waters, and beaches offering expansive white sandbars for exploration.

Sandals says the transformation will bring the full breadth of the Beaches Resorts experiences and amenities and will include an evolved configuration of rooms with multi-bedroom villas, suites and connecting rooms, as well as undergo upgrades to its 12 restaurants and culinary offerings, the development of an all-new Kids Camp, splash deck, and much more, while tapping into entirely new adventure opportunities for families.

When it opens, the new Beaches Exuma – the brand’s fourth resort – will also retain existing amenities such as the full-service Red Lane Spa and access to the Greg Norman designed 18-hole Emerald Bay golf course.

Sandals says the rebranding is part of a strategic plan for the SRI organization to significantly expand its footprint across the Caribbean, including recently welcoming Sandals Dunn’s River in Jamaica, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sandals Royal Curaçao into its family of resorts, along with expansions and upgrades to several other resorts throughout the Caribbean.