Principe Collection refurbishment and what it means for May itineraries
Business travelers planning São Tomé and Príncipe in May need clarity. The Principe Collection refurbishment programme running through 2025–2026 is already reshaping how the island’s luxury hotels manage rooms, restaurants and transfers, and that affects every executive trying to bolt leisure onto a work trip. On Príncipe island the HBD Príncipe portfolio (the sustainable development group formerly known as Here Be Dragons) functions almost like one integrated resort system, so a change at one property quietly ripples across the others.
Bom Bom closure dates and current refurbishment timeline
Bom Bom Príncipe is confirmed closed for refurbishment from the end of April 2025 until at least late 2025, with works tied to the broader renovation push ahead of Belo Monte’s opening and a new phase for the collection. HBD has flagged this closure on its official booking engine and in direct reservation emails, but has not publicly detailed the full renovation scope at Bom Bom, Roça Sundy and Omali hotel; on the ground that usually means selective room closures, adjusted restaurant service and a more curated set of experiences rather than a full shutdown. As of the latest HBD Príncipe reservation notices, specific room categories, restaurant names and exact reopening dates have not been formally confirmed, so executives should treat all details as subject to change and verify them directly with the reservations team before locking in flights.
HBD’s approach mirrors what European grande dame properties do when they modernise public spaces without losing character. In Milan, for example, Hotel Principe di Savoia, part of Dorchester Collection, completed a soft refurbishment of its lobby lounge led by Architteture&Interni Milano, and the stated aim was simple: “Enhance guest experience. Modernize interior design. Preserve classic elegance.” In recent guidance shared with trade partners and in internal HBD Príncipe updates, the group has echoed that philosophy, stressing that upgrades will “protect the soul of each roça and beach lodge while elevating comfort and sustainability.” That same balance between renovation and heritage is what Príncipe luxury travelers should expect from the Principe Collection refurbishment phase across 2025 and 2026, even if the islands feel far removed from a grand city hotel on Piazza della Repubblica.
Which Principe hotels stay open in May and how service adapts
Roça Sundy availability in May and beach resort options
For May, the working assumption for business‑leisure guests is that at least one Príncipe Collection beach resort and one roça‑style heritage property will remain operational, even while refurbishment continues elsewhere. Historically, HBD Príncipe has kept Sundy Praia or Bom Bom open as the primary beach resort anchor, then rotated renovation works through the remaining hotels to protect overall capacity and maintain a true sense of seclusion on the islands. That means fewer rooms in inventory but a higher staff‑to‑guest ratio, which many executives quietly rate as a competitive luxury advantage over busier mass‑market resort destinations.
What is typically open vs closed during partial refurbishment
Partial closure at HBD properties usually translates into very specific, manageable changes rather than disruption. A pool may be out of service while decks are retimbered, a secondary restaurant might shift to limited hours, or inter‑island transfers will be consolidated so that guests share a boat or vehicle instead of having bespoke timings. At the time of writing, HBD has not issued a definitive list of affected room types, named restaurants or transfer routes for each May period, so travelers should assume that some suites, villas or heritage rooms may be temporarily offline and that certain dining venues could operate on a rotating schedule. On Príncipe island that can actually sharpen the experience, because you are more likely to meet the same small circle of guests at the bar, on the beach or during guided experiences in the forest, instead of feeling lost in a vast grid of anonymous hotel resorts.
For travelers who prioritise a roça experience over a pure beach resort stay, Roça Sundy typically becomes the strategic base, especially when Sundy Praia is under heavier renovation. You sleep in a restored cacao estate house, then shuttle down to the coast for the beach and water activities, which keeps you close to the island’s history while still accessing the resort‑style comforts that define Principe luxury stays. Those who care more about uninterrupted ocean views and easy sand between meetings should reverse the logic and treat the beach resort as home, dipping into the roça and the interior of the island for curated half‑day experiences.
Booking strategy, transfers and timing for business‑leisure certainty
What is bookable vs closed during the Principe Collection refurbishment
During any Principe Collection refurbishment window across 2025–2026, the smartest move for executives is to book flights, São Tomé connections and all Príncipe island transfers directly with the property. When a hotel is juggling renovation phases, only the in‑house team knows which boat, vehicle or aircraft rotation will actually run, and online travel agencies rarely update fast enough to reflect those micro‑adjustments. Direct contact also lets you lock in which resort or roça will host you on each night, something no generic global booking engine can guarantee when room blocks are shifting weekly. As a practical rule of thumb, assume that at least one beach lodge, one roça estate and core transfer services remain bookable, while one or more pools, some room categories and selected dining outlets may be temporarily closed or operating with reduced capacity.
How to contact HBD Príncipe reservations for up‑to‑date details
Expect the reservations team to outline clearly what partial closure means for your specific dates, whether that is a temporarily closed pool, a relocated breakfast restaurant or a reshuffled pattern of guided experiences. This level of candour is part of why Príncipe hotels have built a reputation that punches above their room count, and it contrasts sharply with the opacity some guests report at very large multi‑tower Caribbean complexes. To get the most accurate information, executives should contact HBD Príncipe reservations via the official booking engine, dedicated email address or phone number listed on the group’s site and request written confirmation of which hotel, room type and transfer schedule applies to each night of their stay.
Availability should begin to normalise once Belo Monte opens and the current renovation cycle eases, because the collection will then be able to spread guests more evenly across its hotels and resorts. That will give business‑leisure travelers more flexibility to pair a São Tomé city hotel like Omali with a Príncipe beach resort or roça stay, without worrying that a last‑minute refurbishment will compress options. For a deeper sense of how these properties fit into the wider Gulf of Guinea hospitality landscape, our guide to cultural immersion and luxury stays on São Tomé and Príncipe at mysao-tomestay.com maps out the true character of each island and helps you turn a necessary work trip into a carefully calibrated escape.
Sources
Príncipe Collection official communications and booking channels (including HBD Príncipe reservation notices, booking engine updates and internal trade guidance); Hotel Principe di Savoia and Dorchester Collection press materials; São Tomé and Príncipe tourism authorities and airline schedules.