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Hotel guide · Hotel · Golden Triangle, New Kingston

AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston: what to know before you book

Researched by Michael RainfordFacts checked Sources
On this page
  1. My local take
  2. At a glance
  3. Pros and cons
  4. Rooms
  5. Food & drink
  6. Pool & beach
  7. Location
  8. FAQ
  9. Sources

My local take

The AC opened in June 2019, Marriott’s first AC hotel in Jamaica and Sandals’ first step off the beach. Adam Stewart’s family owns it, and you can see that in the details: art by Jamaican artists and furniture made locally, inside a modern tower in Kingston’s “golden triangle” of business and entertainment. At 219 rooms with more than 18,000 sq ft of event space, it’s a big hotel built with conferences and functions in mind.

My take: the AC suits the traveler who wants Kingston with a modern, design-hotel feel, and who’ll be out at meetings, events or dinner most of the day. It isn’t a resort. There’s no beach, and Marriott’s announcement lists breakfast at AC Kitchen and drinks at the AC Lounge rather than a full dining program, so plan to eat out in the city. If you want quiet, a hotel that hosts events for 600 people may not be it.

If it’s not quite right, look at Courtyard by Marriott Kingston, the smaller Marriott hotel by Emancipation Park, or The Jamaica Pegasus, the classic New Kingston business hotel with breakfast included. For a waterfront base downtown, try ROK Hotel Kingston. More options: where to stay in Kingston.

At a glance

Name
AC Hotel Kingston, Jamaica (AC Hotels by Marriott); the brand's first hotel in Jamaica
Area
Kingston's "golden triangle" business and entertainment district
Hotel type
Lifestyle city hotel, not all-inclusive
Status
Open, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board
Size
219 rooms
Opened
June 2019
Owners
The Stewart family (Sandals Resorts International and ATL Group); run under the AC Hotels by Marriott brand
Food and drink
AC Kitchen (daily European-style breakfast buffet with Jamaican touches) and the AC Lounge for co-working, drinks and socializing
Pool and fitness
Outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center
Meetings and events
More than 18,000 sq ft of meeting and banquet space for groups of up to 600, described as the largest in the city at opening
Design
Art by Jamaican artists and locally made furnishings throughout
Loyalty
Part of Marriott Bonvoy
Airport
10 miles from Norman Manley International Airport (KIN)

Checked October 2026 against the sources below. See sources. Something changed? Tell me.

What stands out

  • Modern design with art by Jamaican artists and locally made furniture.
  • Outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
  • More than 18,000 sq ft of event space for up to 600 people.
  • Owned by the Stewart family of Sandals, run to Marriott's AC standards, and part of Marriott Bonvoy.
  • About 10 miles from Norman Manley airport, in the business and entertainment district.

What to know before booking

  • It's a city hotel: no beach and not all-inclusive.
  • Dining is built around breakfast at AC Kitchen and the AC Lounge, so most meals will be out.
  • A busy event venue, so public areas can fill up with conferences and functions.
  • Many of the published details date from the 2019 opening, so check current restaurant and pool hours with the hotel.

Rooms

The hotel has 219 rooms. AC rooms are built around the brand’s clean, minimal design, and here they’re paired with work by Jamaican artists and furniture made on the island. Marriott’s official page lists the current room types, sizes and views; check bed configurations there before you book, because this guide couldn’t confirm them from an official room page.

Food & drink

AC Kitchen serves a daily European-style breakfast buffet with Jamaican touches. Check whether it’s in your rate. The AC Lounge is the hotel’s bar and social space, set up for working on a laptop by day and drinks in the evening. Kingston is a food city, so my advice is to eat out: New Kingston and Hope Road have plenty of options, and Devon House is the local favorite for patties and ice cream.

Pool & beach

There’s no beach in this part of Kingston. The hotel has an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. For a beach day, locals head to Port Royal and the cays off the Palisadoes; check what’s running before you go.

Location

The AC sits in what Marriott calls Kingston’s “golden triangle”, the business and entertainment district around New Kingston. Devon House, the Bob Marley Museum and Emancipation Park are all a short taxi ride, and Hope Gardens is further up Hope Road. The hotel is about 10 miles from Norman Manley International Airport. The UK FCDO advises using the South Camp Road route from the airport and not driving in Kingston if you don’t know the city, so a pre-booked transfer is the easy option. See where to stay in Kingston and Kingston for visitors for the wider city.

Questions people ask

Is AC Hotel Kingston all-inclusive?

No. It’s a city hotel. AC Kitchen serves a daily breakfast buffet, but check whether it’s included in your rate, and other meals and drinks are paid separately.

Who owns AC Hotel Kingston?

The Stewart family, who own Sandals Resorts International and the ATL Group. The hotel runs under Marriott’s AC Hotels brand and is part of Marriott Bonvoy.

Does AC Hotel Kingston have a pool?

Yes, an outdoor pool, plus a 24-hour fitness center.

How far is AC Hotel Kingston from the airport?

About 10 miles from Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), according to Marriott. Book a transfer ahead, especially for evening arrivals.

Is AC Hotel Kingston open after Hurricane Melissa?

Yes. The Jamaica Tourist Board lists AC Hotel Kingston as open as of October 2026.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — New guide: researched from official and brand sources; facts checked.
  • — Moved source citations out of the text

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.

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