sandals montego bay
the flagship property of sandals resorts
est. 1981
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Celebrating Sandals
40th Anniversary
Since opening our flagship resort in 1981, our company has been dedicated to bringing you the world’s best vacation and home-away-from-home. Sandals Founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart stood apart not only by offering the all-inclusive concept on the best beaches, but including more quality, choices and luxury than any other resorts in the Caribbean. Join us in celebrating 40 years of love and trust.
JOIN THE CELEBRATION
Brands Our Family of Resorts
For more than thirty years, Sandals has perfected the romantic resort experience for couples, earning a worldwide reputation as the place where "love is all you need" because everything else is taken care of.
There are 17 Luxury Included® Sandals Resorts located throughout the Caribbean including Jamaica, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia and Curaçao. Each offers stunning beachfront settings, luxurious accommodations and the many features that make the Sandals Luxury Included® experience. Having been named the Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand at the World Travel Awards for 18 years in a row, Sandals Resorts is the recognized standard of romantic beach vacations.
Sandals Website
The first Beaches Resort opened in 1997 and was a brand born from the insistent requests of couples who loved Sandals Resorts and wanted a similar experience to share with their families.
Now a truly beloved brand in the densely-packed family vacation market, having been voted the World's Leading Family All-Inclusive Resort for 14 years in a row, Beaches Resorts has established itself as the ultimate family-friendly all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, offering an unforgettable vacation experience for guests of all ages.
Located in the Exumas chain in the Bahamas, the Fowl Cay Resort offers six private one-, two- and three-bedroom villas outfitted with casually elegant furnishings to complement the stunning surroundings.
At Fowl Cay everything is included in the price of your Villa, and then some. From meals and drinks to a dedicated golf cart, beach cruisers and even a motorboat for fishing or to explore neighboring beaches and cays. All villas are also equipped with a fully stocked kitchen, modern electronics, Molton Brown amenities and all the details of a true vacation beach home.
The Private Villas of Sandals & Beaches are a collection of four spectacular beachfront homes that capture the very essence of fine Jamaican living.
Located across the island, the homes each have a personality of their own from the stunning beauty of the 14-acre Rio Chico, to the laid back easy-going charm of Sundown, and from the luxurious pampering at Villa Plantana to the quiet peacefulness of Lime Acre, there is something for everyone in this collection of very fine private homes in Jamaica.
HISTORY SANDALS AND BEACHES RESORTS
About Sandals and Beaches Resorts
World renowned Sandals and Beaches Resorts has transformed from one brand and one resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica to become one of the most well-known and award-winning hospitality names in the world. With five brands and 24 properties in eight countries including Antigua, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Curaçao and Turks & Caicos, Sandals and Beaches Resorts is the undisputed leader of Caribbean vacation experiences and remains fiercely committed to the region, dedicating itself to innovative resort development that in the words of Founder Gordon "Butch" Stewart, "exceed expectations" for guests, associates and the people who call the Caribbean home.
OUR LEADERSHIP MEET THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE US FORWARD
Our Executive Chairman
Adam Stewart, CD
Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts
Adam Stewart is Executive Chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the company founded by his father, Gordon "Butch" Stewart which includes the world's most recognized brands of luxury all-inclusive resorts including adult, couples-only Sandals Resorts and family-friendly Beaches Resorts. His efforts have been recognized by numerous hospitality industry awards including being named the 2015 Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Hotelier of the Year. In addition to his responsibilities as Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart continues his leadership role in the family's extensive hospitality, media, automotive and appliance business holdings, including his position as Deputy Chairman and CEO, The ATL Group, comprising the Jamaica Observer, the country's leading daily newspaper and ATL Appliance Traders, a chain of domestic and commercial appliance outlets combining exclusive distributorship of the world's top electronic brands and 'unbeatable' customer service throughout Jamaica. Deeply committed to the region, he is the President of the Sandals Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization aimed at fulfilling the promise of the Caribbean community, and also serves as 1st Vice President of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association and is chair of the country's Tourism Linkages Council, which seeks to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of local suppliers, making the strength of tourism work for all.
Adam Stewart, one of the most successful and admired entrepreneurs of our time is the dynamic Executive Chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the world's most recognized brands of luxury all-inclusive resorts including adult, couples-only Sandals Resorts and family-friendly Beaches Resorts. He is also the Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The ATL Group, Jamaica's longest standing automotive and appliance distributors with recently expanded region-wide operations. Stewart also serves as President of the philanthropic Sandals Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organisation aimed at improving the lives of people in communities throughout the Caribbean. The Sandals Foundation funds projects in three core areas: education, community, and the environment. One hundred percent of the monies contributed by the general public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the region.
Born in 1981, the same year his father Gordon 'Butch' Stewart purchased his first hotel and launched the Sandals Resorts chain, Stewart was raised in Jamaica and later graduated from the acclaimed Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University in Miami. After graduation, Stewart underwent a fast track immersion course through the company's Caribbean-wide resort operations which today comprises 25 resorts across three brands and seven islands, including the company's most recent acquisition for Beaches Resorts in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Sandals Resorts in Curacao.
Prior to focusing on his role as Executive Chairman, Stewart spent more than a decade as Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SRI, leading the brand's transition to its now Luxury Included® signature and overseeing a period of great expansion that also introduced the region's first over-the-water accommodations.
Along with his father, Stewart's leadership has earned the company international acclaim, including being named The World Travel Awards' Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Company for 25 consecutive years, and has resulted in Stewart being personally recognised as the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association's Hotelier of the Year 2015, World Travel Awards' Rising Star, Caribbean World's Travel and Tourism Personality of the Year and receiving the Distinguished Alumni Torch Award from FIU and The Gleaner Company's Jamaica 50 under 50 Award. In October 2015, Stewart was also named the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's Hotelier of the Year.
An avid adventurer and lover of the sea, Stewart was inspired to share his passion for the Caribbean and launched the region's premier tour company, Island Routes Caribbean Adventures, offering countless unique and exciting tour and adventure experiences throughout the region. Island Routes has since transformed from a small island outpost to a multiple World Travel-Award-winning company employing 200 people and offering hundreds of adventures in 12 countries.
In addition to his hospitality interests, Stewart is Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman of the family-owned ATL Group comprising the Jamaica Observer, the country's leading daily newspaper and Appliance Traders Limited a chain of domestic and commercial appliance outlets founded in 1968 and known for its exclusive distributorship of the world's top electronic brands and ‘unbeatable' customer service throughout Jamaica. Modernized under the younger Stewart's leadership, the re-energized company now encompasses a broad spectrum of new sectors with international aspirations while still remaining faithful to the philosophy of service that the senior Stewart created many years ago. In 2018 the company celebrated its 50th anniversary as one of the largest private sector organizations in Jamaica, boasting over 750 employees nationwide.
In 2010, driven by his love for cars, Stewart changed the face of the automotive industry in Jamaica with the rapid expansion of ATL Automotive. With multi-million-dollar distributorships and state-of-the-art service centers located in Kingston and Montego Bay, ATL Automotive has boasted unrivalled sales and service of the Audi, Volkswagen and Honda brands. The Honda brand, part of the ATL Group since 1997, has scored big and now boasts the second largest market share in the world. ATL Autobahn, a new division under the ATL Automotive umbrella, was formed in 2016 as the local dealer and regional master dealer for BMW and MINI for the Caribbean region, with operations in nine other countries: Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Barbados, Aruba, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Antigua. In 2017, the iconic brand Porsche was launched under ATL Motorsports as the automotive industry was again raised to another level. To complete its portfolio, the South Korean global super brand Kia began operations under ATL Tiger Automotive brand in March 2018.
In August 2016, ATL Automotive announced a game changing tri-brand franchise partnership with the world's largest car rental company, Enterprise Holdings Inc. – the first ever of its kind – that saw the Alamo, National and Enterprise brands represented at four locations throughout Jamaica including prime spots at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and in each city center.
Expanding his holdings, in May 2017, Stewart oversaw the introduction of the Starbucks® brand to Jamaica when he partnered with Margaritaville Caribbean Group to form Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited and entered into a licensing agreement with the Starbucks Coffee Company. The agreement granted Stewart's group the exclusive rights to own and operate Starbucks® stores throughout Jamaica. There are now three Starbucks outlets in Jamaica in Montego Bay, Falmouth and Kingston.
Despite being one of the most prominent young businessmen in the region, Adam Stewart remains a proud Jamaican and citizen of the Caribbean dedicating much of his time to elevating the region he calls home. In 2009, he founded the Sandals Foundation with the aim of uniting the region under one common goal: to uplift its people through education and protect its delicate ecosystems. The Sandals Foundation harnesses the resources, talents, partnerships, and awareness behind the Sandal brand to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the Caribbean.
In 2013, Stewart was named Ambassador of the Caribbean SickKids Paediatric Cancer and Blood Disorder Project. The not-for-profit collaboration between Canada's renowned Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and various institutions across six Caribbean islands, works to provide the best possible management for paediatric cancer and to improve outcomes for children affected by cancers and serious blood disorders in the region. Stewart also founded and sits as Chairman of We Care for Cornwall Regional Hospital, a local non-profit organisation that brings together Montego Bay-based individuals to raise funds and improve the facilities of the city's Cornwall Regional Hospital. In 2018, Stewart was honored with the Ambassador for the Poor Award by the Food for the Poor at its 23rd Annual Building Hope Gala for his efforts to help impoverished communities in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
Underlining his reputation as a staunch advocate of education, Stewart established the internationally accredited private sector educational institute, the Sandals Corporate University/ ATL Academy of Excellence. Launched in early 2012, the Sandals Corporate University (SCU) pushes the boundaries of distance learning in the Caribbean with over 5,000 team members enrolling in the University to date, and the resorts and companies themselves reaching new levels of excellence. The SCU is the hospitality sector's first adult education program for Caribbean nationals employed by the Sandals/ATL Group and is underscored by the company's well-documented training and development of a world-class team; and Stewart's ambitious leadership in offering guests and clients unprecedented experiences.
In 2016, Stewart received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) for outstanding contribution to tourism and the hotel industry. The Order of Distinction is a national honor conferred by the Government of Jamaica upon citizens who render outstanding and important services to the country. He was also named the 2016 Caribbean American Mover & Shaker – Humanitarian of the Year from the Caribbean Media Network. In June 2017, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) honored Stewart with the Jerry Award for his demonstrated passion in the development of the Caribbean region through time, energy, financial and other personal and professional resources.
Stewart recently concluded a three-year stint as 1st Vice President of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association and currently chairs the country's Tourism Linkages Council, which seeks to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of local suppliers, making the strength of tourism work for all.
In 2020, Adam played an integral role in managing the company's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his guidance, Sandals Resorts International implemented the respected Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness at Sandals and Beaches Resorts to ensure guests' and team members' safety. Additionally, Stewart consulted with industry groups, government entities, health organizations and international associations alike for the betterment of the travel industry. His work guaranteed Sandals and Beaches Resorts was at the forefront of providing a safe and enjoyable destination for international travelers.
When his father, Gordon "Butch" Stewart, passed away on January 4, 2021, Adam was appointed as the resort company's Executive Chairman. Stewart is now the only other in the company's 40-year history to retain this position preceding his late father, who founded the organization in 1981.
Adam and his wife Jill are proud parents to son Aston and daughters Sloane and Camden.
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Our CEO
Gebhard F. Rainer
Chief Executive Officer, Sandals Resorts
Gebhard F. Rainer is Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of the world’s most recognized brands of luxury all‐inclusive resorts including Sandals Resorts, the adult, couples‐only resorts for two people in love, and Beaches Resorts, the family‐friendly resorts for everyone. In this role, he manages internal processes as SRI prepares to rapidly accelerate the strategic growth of the award‐winning luxury all‐inclusive brands under its banner.
Rainer is an accomplished and highly‐regarded hospitality executive with more than thirty years of global operations and international finance experience, most notably with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining SRI, he immersed himself in global luxury brands manufacturer COACH Inc. as President and Chief Operating Officer.
He completed his graduate degree at the Hotel Management School in Bad Hofgastein, Austria, and went on to begin his hospitality career in 1988 as Director of Finance for Hyatt Hotels. Throughout his career, he expanded his horizons by completing executive training programs at The Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Booth School of Business at University of Chicago.
Dedicated to propelling the hospitality industry forward, he serves on the advisory board of AT‐Visions, a technology company committed to the needs of the hospitality and entertainment industries. He is also a Member of the Board of Directors for Oasis Center International that advocates for arts education, minority rights and civic engagement.
Rainer brings global expertise from his extensive international travels and his experiences living all over the world ‐ from the Middle East, to Eastern and Western Europe, to the United States.
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Joanne Pearson
Director, Corporate Reporting
As a skilled financial expert with over 30 years of robust corporate finance experience, Joanne has demonstrated a history of excellence in the hospitality industry. Over the years, she has honed and developed competencies in hospitality analytics, creating and managing budgets and cash flow, business planning and external audit.
As Director of Corporate Reporting, Joanne has direct responsibility for the Business Intelligence System that tracks the daily, weekly and monthly KPIs for the Sandals Resorts Group. She also meticulously provides and prepares budget guidelines, consolidates and analyzes budget files and facilitates budget reviews on behalf of the group.
With her vast knowledge and wealth of experience, Joanne has contributed significantly to the financial health and stability of the Sandals Group. In addition to being a chartered accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Joanne is also a member of the Audit and Payables Committees for Sandals Resorts International.
As Director of Corporate Reporting, READ MORE
Karen C. Barnaby-Swaby
Financial Controller, Technical Services Division
Having in excess of 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Karen currently supports the dynamic Technical Services Division which has responsibility for new construction, acquisition, renovation and branding of the resorts under the Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts brands.
Prior to her appointment as Financial Controller of the Technical Services Division, Karen served as Financial Controller for Sandals Grande Antigua and Sandals Royal Plantation, having been promoted from Assistant Financial Controller at Beaches Negril and serving as Management Accountant at the SRI Corporate Office. During her tenure, she has undertaken the training and development of several finance teams across the Group and has been the recipient of awards including Financial Controller of the Year 2007 for the Group Finance Team and MVP of the Year 2017 for Sandals Resorts International.
Karen is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. She studied at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and holds degrees in Business and Accounting. She also earned her MBA in Business Administration and Management at the Nova Southeastern University, Florida.
Prior to her appointment as READ MORE
Sheryl McGaw-Douse
Group Manager, Communications & Public Relations
With a passion for all areas of communications and with over a decade’s experience as a Hospitality & Tourism Industry communicator, Sheryl is an accomplished corporate communications professional with prior extensive experience in the public and private
sectors having also worked in finance, legal, consumer advocacy and non-profit.
Sheryl’s Sandals journey began in 2007 as public relations manager at Sandals South Coast (formerly Sandals Whitehouse). In 2009, she was handpicked to support the newly formed Sandals Foundation where she was integral in raising the organization’s profile - both on and offline – and just eighteen months later, she rose to the position of Group Manager, Public Relations at Sandals Resorts International’s (SRI) corporate office. Sherly now serves as SRI’s Group Manager, Communications & Public Relations, and is currently charged with the group-wide leadership of the regionally-based new and traditional media communications team across all Sandals and Beaches Resorts.
Through her outstanding media relations skills, impactful leadership, creative communications strategies, event planning and execution, and extensive employee communications experience, Sheryl has successfully engineered numerous high-impact internal and external-facing initiatives designed to enhance or change established narratives.
Sheryl holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications with First Class Honours from the Caribbean School of Media and Communications at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and has recently been selected to read for her MBA at the Mona School of Business.
sectors having also worked in READ MORE
Shawn DaCosta
Chief Operations Officer
With an impressive background working at and leading at several resorts in Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands, complemented by international experience at luxury resorts in Italy and London, Shawn DaCosta in his current capacity as Chief Operations Officer at Sandals Resorts International, works closely with chain’s
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, managing the day to day operations of all 19 resorts in the region and leading a dynamic team to maintain the highest standards across the group.
Since joining the company in 1991 as a management trainee, Shawn has distinguished himself to become an integral member of the Sandals Resorts Executive team - holding various roles over his tenure including Food and Beverage Manager at Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Dunn’s River, and Director of Operations at Beaches Turks & Caicos. After an impressive display in Turks and Caicos, he was asked to join the team at Sandals Resorts International as Director of Operations in 2006, and was responsible for all resort operations within the company’s portfolio, with direct reporting from all General Managers and responsibility for all partnership relations.
Spearheading numerous successful resort openings, Shawn has consistently demonstrated impressive management skills and operational know-how, generating new initiatives and ideas to efficiently grow the company’s operations, becoming the Chief Operations Officer in 2016. He created and implemented the chain’s first Standard Operating Procedures document for all departments, played a fundamental role in establishing the corporate procurement division and led the development of the company’s award-winning COVID-19 response, the Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness.
Shawn was educated in The Netherlands at Stenden University where he was named valedictorian; in The United States and Jamaica and has spent his entire career in the hospitality industry.
Chief Executive Officer and READ MORE
Michelle LaMarre
Head of Sandals Corporate University
Charged with leading the development of new curricula and academic programming for the Sandals Corporate University, Michelle LaMarre joined the Sandals team with over 25 years of successful experience in the education sector, with specific expertise in managing the operations, finance, curriculum development and
strategic planning of educational institutions.
Michelle serves as an ambassador for the Corporate University, establishing innovative partnerships and working closely with partner universities to ensure the successful implementation of programs and offerings. Additionally, she oversees the development and maintenance of learning management systems and consults with government regulatory bodies and licensing authorities to ensure compliance with all statutory and legal requirements.
Michelle holds an MBA with a focus on Management and Corporate Social Responsibility from Clark University in Massachusetts, a B.A. from Boston College in Maine, and various other educational and leadership certifications.
strategic planning of educational READ MORE
Jessica Shannon
Chief Experience Officer
Serving as a global industry leader with extensive consulting experience in market development, market positioning and customer experience, change management, organizational transformation and more, Jessica Shannon joined Sandals Resorts International’s team as Chief Experience Officer. Jessica is responsible for
Jessica is responsible for enhancing the company’s award-winning approach to delivering best-in-class, high-quality experiences across the entire guest journey, from booking through to returning home. She also leads the global strategy for new and innovative experiences based on evolving traveler demand and shifting world scenarios. Additionally, Jessica utilizes her recognized expertise to ensure that team members enjoy a workplace centered on human-design, fostering an inspiring, transparent and sustainable culture that allows team members to do their best work together.
Jessica holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business.
enhancing the company’s READ MORE
Winston Anderson
Managing Director, Eastern Caribbean
As a hospitality professional with nearly 40 years of experience in Food and Beverage, Accounting, Rooms Division, Sales and Marketing, and Project Management, Winston’s journey with Sandals Resorts is well-known.
Winston began working with the Sandals Resorts team in 1991 as a Food & Beverage Manager at Sandals Ochi and later advanced to hold successively progressive roles including Hotel Manager and then General Manager across the group. His most recent promotion in 2017 saw him being appointed Managing Director, Sandals Grande St. Lucian with oversight for all three Saint Lucian resorts. As of 2021, Winston’s role has expanded to include overseeing the islands of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in addition to his duties as Managing Director for all Saint Lucian resorts.
Winston began working with the Sandals Resorts team in 1991 as a Food & Beverage Manager at Sandals Ochi and later READ MORE
Heidi Clarke
Executive Director
Born and raised in Jamaica, Heidi has extensive experience in the education, social services and business management fields. As the Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation - the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International which focuses on developing the Caribbean and improving the lives of its people
environment and community – Heidi manages development projects across nine Caribbean islands.
By harnessing the power of volunteerism and activism led by team members, guests, travel agents, local, regional, international, nonprofit organizations, and corporate partners, Heidi and her team execute life-changing programs that go beyond the doors of Sandals and Beaches Resorts.
Heidi sits on the board of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation and is a Director on the board of Nudge Caribbean. In Jamaica, she is a certified Game Warden with the National Environment and Planning Agency and a member on the boards of the Fish Sanctuary Network, the North East Regional Health Authority Fundraising Committee, Culloden Early Childhood Institute, and the Freedom Skatepark Committee.
Heidi graduated from the University of Miami, where she studied child psychology and education while working with children and underprivileged schools in the South Florida community.
through the areas of education, READ MORE
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Our Founder
HON. GORDON “BUTCH” STEWART O.J., C.D., HON. LLD
Founder
July 6, 1941 - January 4, 2021
SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
In an age of great men, Gordon Arthur ‘Butch’ Stewart O.J., C.D., Hon. LLD, stands out as a beacon of human possibility. As a proud Jamaican, Butch Stewart has blazed a trail that has redefined entrepreneurship and humanized success for 40 years.
But no one with knowledge of only a few aspects of Butch Stewart can grasp the depth and complexity of his character. His easy pace, infectious warmth and trademark striped shirt, belies the prowess and acute business acumen responsible for his estimated billion-dollar, privately-owned Jamaican-based empire that today includes 25 Caribbean resorts, Appliance Traders Ltd., ATL Automotive, ATL Autobahn and The Observer media company. All told, Stewart spearheads two dozen diverse companies that collectively represent Jamaica’s largest private sector group, the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner and its largest non-government employer. This is a man fueled by a dogged passion for hard work, duty to country and love of family who always seems to be having the most fun. "Honestly, I’ve never worked a day in my life," says he.
Son of Gordon Leslie Stewart and Jean Patricia (née Townend), Butch Stewart was born in Kingston, Jamaica on July 6, 1941. He grew up along Jamaica's North Coast, a tropical paradise that now boasts several of his Luxury Included® Sandals and Beaches Resorts. His boyhood was spiked with its fair share of mischief and love of adventure; a creative energy that now finds expression in one business success after another and an ample dose of sea life and dominoes.
After completing his secondary education in England, he returned to Jamaica and in short order established himself as a master salesman. This impressive start lit a torch and unleashed a burgeoning entrepreneurial zeal in young Stewart. In 1968, he resigned his post as a sales manager with the Dutch-owned Curacao Trading Company to start Appliance Traders Ltd., then a service and distribution company for Fedders air conditioners. The company grew meteorically but by 1981, Stewart was ready to conquer new horizons and thus began the story of Sandals Resorts.
Despite no hotel experience, Stewart bought a rundown hotel on a magnificent beach in Montego Bay as a real estate investment, approaching this business with the same simple philosophy he articulated many times: “Find out what people want, give it to them and in doing so - exceed their expectations.”
Seven months and $4 million in renovations later, Sandals Montego Bay opened as the flagship of what is today, the most popular award-winning, all-inclusive resort chain in the world. Stewart has never laid claim to starting the all-inclusive concept, couples-only format but he is recognized worldwide for the consistent innovation and unsurpassed level of luxury he has brought to the all-inclusive experience.
Where other so-called “all-inclusives” offered meals and rooms at a set rate, Sandals Resorts’ prices covered 5-Star Global Gourmet dining options, premium brand drinks, gratuities, airport transfers, taxes and all land and watersport activities. The competition meals were buffet-style, so Stewart created the on-property specialty restaurants with high culinary standards and white-glove service. Sandals Resorts also was the first Caribbean hotel company to offer whirlpools and satellite television service, the first with swim-up pool bars and the first to guarantee that every room is fitted with a king-size bed and a hair dryer. The Sandals Resort International’s Luxury- Included® experience features a signature spa concept – Red Lane® Spa, signature luxury suites designed for privacy and ultimate pampering, signature partnerships with iconic organizations such as Microsoft Xbox® Play Lounge, Sesame Workshop, PADI, Robert Mondavi Wines and the London-based Guild of Professional English Butlers. More recent innovations include the addition of Over-the-Water Villas and Bungalows concept, Over-the-Water bars in Jamaica, and Over-the-Water wedding chapels to a number of its properties in Jamaica and St. Lucia.
By steadfastly adhering to the “We can do it better” principle of pleasing his guests, Stewart has fostered a company free to imagine and free to consistently raise the bar. This has earned him the title of “King of All-Inclusives,” changing the face of the all-inclusive format and establishing Sandals Resorts as the most successful brand in the category – boasting year-round occupancy levels of more than 85 percent, an unequaled repeat guest factor of 40 percent and demand that has led to unprecedented expansion including the creation of additional concepts such as Beaches Resorts, now the industry standard for excellence in family beach vacations.
Today, Sandals Resorts International operates nine resorts and three private villas in Jamaica, three resorts in Saint Lucia, three in The Bahamas, one in Antigua, one in Grenada, two in Barbados and one in The Turks & Caicos Islands – and is poised for continued growth with a Sandals Resorts to open on the island of Curaçao and a Beaches Resorts to open in St. Vincent & The Grenadines. For 25 years in a row, Sandals Resorts International has been named the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company at the prestigious World Travel Awards and has been recognized by the industry and consumers for excellence worldwide including the following organizations in the United States:
- Agent At Home
- AAA
- About.com
- American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
- American Express
- Apple Vacations
- Brides Magazine
- Budget Travel Magazine
- The Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS)
- Classic Vacations
- Condé Nast Traveler Annual Readers’ Choice Poll- Best in the World
- Condé Nast Traveler's Annual Spa Poll "Top 270 Spas"
- Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award
- Corporate Meetings & Incentives
- DestinationWeddings.com
- Fodor's
- Flight Centre
- GOGO Vacations
- Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
- Islands
- Meetings & Conventions
- MLT Vacations
- Ocean Style Magazine
- Oyster
- PADI
- Performance Media Group
- PR Daily
- Porthole Cruise Magazine
- Recommend
- Travel + Leisure
- Travalliance
- Travel Weekly
- TravelAge West
- TripAdvisor®
- USA Today
- US News & World Report
- Vacation Agent
- Women's Choice Awards
His leadership and pioneering role helped resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry and earned the respect of his peers and the admiration of his countrymen. He was elected President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica in 1989 and was inducted in its "Hall of Fame" in 1995. He served as a Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board for a decade and as President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association from 1984 -1988. In this capacity, he ably balanced government and private sector priorities, reconciling the concerns of large and small Jamaican hotels and raising public understanding of the tourism industry. In 1994, Stewart led a group of investors to take leadership of Air Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest regionally based carrier. It was a daunting task -planes were dirty, service was indifferent and on-time schedules were rarely met, causing market share to plummet along with revenues.
When Stewart stepped in, he insisted on a passenger-friendly approach: on-time service, reduced waiting lines, increased training for all personnel, and signature free champagne on flights to accompany an emphasis on better food. He also opened new routes in the Caribbean, brought on new Airbus jets and established a Montego Bay hub for flights coming from and returning to the United States. Just as with ATL and Sandals Resorts, Stewart’s formula proved successful and in late 2004, Stewart gave the airline back to the government with an increase in revenue of over US$250 million.
Perhaps less well-known is the extent of his considerable philanthropy. Sandals Resorts International currently gives active support to almost 300 major projects in its host communities through its philanthropic arm, The Sandals Foundation. This support ranges from the building of schools and the paying of teachers, to providing hospitals with linens and bringing healthcare to the doorsteps of those who cannot afford it. Beyond the Foundation, in his homeland of Jamaica, Stewart stepped in to revive the economy by donating $1 million to stop inflation and adjust the exchange rate. During the Persian Gulf War, Stewart gave over $1 million in free vacations at Sandals Resorts to “Operation Desert Storm” veterans and their guests. After Operation Iraqi Freedom, he doubled the effort and donated $2 million in complimentary vacations to active members of the U.S. armed forces.
In 2012, Stewart founded the Sandals Corporate University, aimed at providing professional development for employees through reputable education and training programs. With access to more than 230 courses and external partnerships with 13 top-ranking local and international universities, every staff member has the opportunity to apply, broaden their knowledge and advance their career.
Stewart’s successes in business and in life have earned him more than 50 well-deserved local, regional and international accolades and awards including Jamaica’s highest national distinctions: The Order of Jamaica (O.J.), and Commander of the Order of Distinction (C.D.) He is the 2001 recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of the West Indies and also the 2009 recipient from the University of Technology. In 1992, Stewart was presented with the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award in recognition of his tireless efforts to advance humanity. Ernst & Young voted him Master Entrepreneur of the decade of the 90s. Stewart is a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International's highest award and highest award. At the 2000 World Travel Awards, he was voted “Travel Man of the Millennium” for his work in promoting Caribbean tourism. In 2011, The Caribbean American Foundation presented Stewart with the Golden Eagle Humanitarian Award in recognition of his philanthropic contributions to education and entrepreneurship in the Caribbean. In 2016 Stewart was honored with the Most Innovative All-Inclusive Resort Executive by the Travalliance Travvy Awards, Hotelier of the Year at the Cacique Award held by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Invest Caribbean Now Leadership Award presented at its global summit. Most recently, Stewart was awarded with the Chancellor’s Award on behalf of his company at the 10th Annual University of The West Indies (UWI) Toronto Benefit Gala in recognition of its extraordinary international success and positive contribution to the region.
He has earned Lifetime Achievement Awards from The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, Travel Weekly and Globe Travel Awards and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from hospitality authority, Johnson & Wales University. He is one of Jamaica’s most visible and respected personalities, making him a formidable ambassador for brand Jamaica where since 2010 he has served as Chair of JAMPRO, the country's Investment and Promotions agency. He was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS), hosted by the Burba Hotel Network, marking his significant contribution to the hospitality industry over his lifetime with great accomplishment.
Gordon “Butch” Stewart, one of the hospitality industry’s most vibrant personalities passed away at the age of 79 on January 4, 2021. The company Butch Stewart built remains wholly owned by the Stewart family, In honor of Mr. Stewart’s long-term succession plans, his son, Adam Stewart, has been named the new Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.
Gordon “Butch” Stewart is survived by his wife, Cheryl, children Brian, Bobby, Adam, Jaime, Sabrina, Gordon, and Kelly; grandchildren Aston, Sloane, Camden, Penelope-Sky, Isla, Finley, Max, Ben, Zak, Sophie, Annie and Emma; and great grandchildren Jackson, Riley, Emmy and Willow.
Butch Stewart was not only a respected hotelier, he was businessman, a marketer, innovator, philanthropist, family man and mentor. He left a lasting impression on anyone who crossed his path and left a legacy of love and passion within the travel industry.
In honor of his legacy, Sandals Resorts International has established two new programs to further his passion. Alongside the Sandals Corporate University, the new Gordon “Butch” Stewart Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship will benefit young professionals employed in the tourism sector across the Caribbean. Furthermore, the Sandals Foundation has developed a dedicated Marine Conservation effort in his name to protect the Caribbean Sea he loved.
A devoted father and grandfather, Gordon Butch Stewart made his life in the Caribbean and his legacy will last far beyond his own imagination.
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timeline
SANDALS AND BEACHES RESORTS
1981
Gordon "Butch" Stewart opens Sandals Montego Bay, the flagship resort, and begins the Sandals Resorts legacy.
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1985
Sandals opens Carlyle on the Bay in Montego Bay, a small hideaway with a lot of charm now called Sandals Inn.
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1986
Sandals Royal Caribbean opens becoming the only resort in Jamaica with its own private island.
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1988
Sandals Negril opens its doors on Jamaica's largest stretch of the famous Seven-Mile Beach.
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1989
Sandals Ocho Rios, now Sandals Ochi makes its debut in "Butch" Stewart's hometown showing another side of Jamaica.
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1991
Antigua becomes the first destination outside of Jamaica to have a Sandals presence as the chain welcomes Sandals Antigua.
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1992
Sandals adds golf to its game by acquiring Upton Golf Course in Ocho Rios, later renamed the Sandals Golf & Country Club
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1993
Sandals Regency La Toc debuts becoming the first Sandals resort on this simply beautiful island, bringing glamour and luxury to Saint Lucia.
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1994
Sandals introduces Sandals Halcyon, a charming beach resort providing guests an intimate hideaway in Castries, Saint Lucia.
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1996
Sandals Royal Bahamian opens in Nassau, Bahamas bringing European grandeur and royal elegance to its guests as well as a second private island.
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1997
Sandals branches out into a natural extension and introduces its first family resort in its hometown of Jamaica as Beaches Negril opens its doors.
1997
Beaches Turks & Caicos opens in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos becoming the second family resort and a premier destination in "the last of the true exotics.
2001
Sandals Royal Plantation opens in Ocho Rios. Formerly the famous Plantation Inn, this intimate boutique property boasts all-butler, all-oceanfront suites.
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2002
Beaches Ocho Rios opens, becoming Jamaica's newest destination for family fun and adventure.
2002
Sandals Grande St. Lucian opens. This resort is set on its own peninsula and offers breathtaking views of Rodney bay. It is the third Sandals resort in Saint Lucia.
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2005
Sandals South Coast European Village & Spa opens becoming the first resort development on the unchartered south coast region of Jamaica.
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2007
Fowl Cay Resort in the Exumas, Bahamas is added to the portfolio as a private island resort with six villas, a true escape.
2008
Grand Pineapple Beach Negril opens providing guests an authentic Caribbean vacation on Jamaica's famed seven mile beach.
2008
Your Jamaican Villas are added to the portfolio. A collection of the Stewart family's stunning private homes that offers an exclusive vacation experience in Jamaica.
2009
The Sandals Foundation is announced, the Caribbean resort company's official philanthropic arm created to address issues affecting the Caribbean including community, education and the environment.
2010
Sandals Emerald Bay Great Exuma, Bahamas opens, bringing the Luxury Included® vacation concept to the Out Islands of the Bahamas.
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2014
Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa brings a new standard of luxury and amenities to this exotic, unspoiled hideaway.
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2015
Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios, Jamaica underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and has been re-opened as Sandals Ochi Beach Resort. The largest property in the Sandals chain sits on 100 acres overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
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2015
Sandals Barbados Resort opens in an island that is home to exotic locales, a rich history, and an extensive variety of sports and activities.
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2016
Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa is relaunched as the totally reimagined Sandals South Coast, a multi-million dollar renovation including 12 over-the-water bungalows, an over-the-water bar and wedding chapel.
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2016
Sandals Royal Caribbean debuts the Caribbean's first Over-The-Water Villas including a private infinity pool, over-the-water hammock, glass floor panels and exclusive amenities and services.
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2017
Sandals opens second Barbados resort, the all-new, all-suite Sandals Royal Barbados which will feature only concierge and butler-level suites
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Our Values SANDALS AND BEACHES RESORTS
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility
When Gordon "Butch" Stewart opened his first resort, he had one very important mandate; the resort would be required to adopt a school in the community. Team members were to care for it and ensure that the facilities and students had what was needed to be successful. That was more than thirty years ago, and the beginning of a corporate commitment to community and a tradition of service that SRI has nurtured. "We have the resources, therefore the responsibility to act," says Stewart.
Today, every resort under the SRI banner is required to adopt schools and in some cases, entire communities to ensure that the messages of health, safety, environmental concern, community and opportunity are shared as much as possible. From helping to provide new computer labs and building additional classrooms to giving scholarships for academically bright but needy students and hosting career days - our resort teams continually provide mentorship and share their knowledge and resources with our Caribbean neighbors.
In 2007, Sandals Resorts earned the Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award for the Adopt-A-School program and their work in the Caribbean communities.
The Sandals Foundation
The Sandals Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and was created as a natural extension of the nearly three decades of the company's lasting commitment to the Caribbean.
As an independent non-profit organization, the Sandals Foundation has assumed the existing activities of Sandals and Beaches Resorts with the aim of expanding their reach to create a positive and sustainable impact on people's lives and the environment. Working with their neighbors, civic leaders, employees and partners, they have identified programs in the areas of education, environment and community to achieve their promise.
The power of the Sandals brand, the strength of Sandals partnerships, and the passion of our people put them in a great position to have a lasting and meaningful effect on improving lives in the Caribbean.
Sandals Earth Guard
Sandals and Beaches Resorts is a leader within Caribbean hospitality, and through introducing new concepts such as the eco-village at Sandals Montego Bay, an exclusively solar-powered village continuing to set regional sustainability standards, the company is determined to lead the region in environmental stewardship; while encouraging other resorts and hotels to follow in its footsteps. The more hotels and resorts that practice sustainability initiatives, the better it is for the environment, the guests that visit and our family, friends and neighbors who call the Caribbean home.
From recycling to conserving, SRI is committed to providing quality vacation experiences for guests while working to minimize the environmental and social impacts associated with operations. The resort company was the first official hotel chain in the Caribbean to have a Group Director of Environmental Affairs whose sole responsibility is to lead the company's corporate environmental sustainability effort. Since 1997, the company has had a formal environmental policy for all of its resorts with dedicated Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Managers at each property to oversee and be accountable for environmental management performance indicators.
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Sandals Corporate University (SCU)
Sandals Corporate University (SCU) is the company's regional adult education program for the 10,000 employees of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts.
The first of its kind in the Caribbean, the SCU certifies staff members currently without formal academic qualifications and provides qualified team members with an avenue to advance their education. Through partnerships with internationally recognized universities, professional organizations and local education institutions, the SCU offers programs that range from basic hospitality-specific training to putting them on a learning pathway that can ultimately lead to a masters and/or doctoral degrees.
In addition to receiving practical training in specific disciplines, SCU also focuses on eight key learning objectives. Among these elements are the SCU competency assessment, examining the knowledge, skills and attitudes employees require to perform efficiently; the SCU cross training program, allowing team members to gain inter-departmental experience; SCU "volunteer" hours, which gives team members the opportunity to engage in philanthropy by volunteering through the Sandals Foundation and Sandals EarthGuard; and professional qualifications, providing team members with professional certifications at an international level.
Awards voted world's best year after year
For a decade, we have earned every resort award and accolade in the industry, placing Sandals leagues above any other all-inclusive resort. But the greatest reward of all is the high level of guest satisfaction we enjoy, with more than half of our guests having stayed with us before. Sandals is not only the World's Best in the eyes of the travel industry, but the best all-inclusive resort in the hearts of couples around the world.
Complete list of Awards
