Caribbean News
The Stewart Family Honored With Outstanding Leadership In Social Responsibility Award At 2019 World Travel Awards
#Montego Bay, January 31, 2019 – Jamaica – This year, the World Travel Awards bestowed a very special accolade as part of the 26th Annual World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony, which took place at Sandals Montego Bay on January 28th, 2019. The Stewart family on behalf of the Sandals Foundation was presented with the Outstanding Leadership in Social Responsibility award – a prestigious honor presented to an organization which has not only made a positive contribution to the travel and tourism industry, but to the very people and land who provide their businesses to flourish.
While millions have called the Caribbean their vacation destination, beach paradise or tranquil escape, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Founder and Chairman of Sandals® Resorts, refers to it as something much more personal: home. His passion for the Caribbean region translated into the philanthropic values that have been at the forefront of the resort company’s values since its inception 37 years ago.
Many may believe Gordon “Butch” Stewart’s love affair with the Caribbean started with a reinvention of the hospitality industry, but there was already plenty of philanthropic activity stirring up in this salesman-turned-entrepreneur. At Appliance Traders Ltd, he brought the innovation of air conditioning to Jamaican consumers while sharing the same luxury for free at the then newly built Cornwall Regional Hospital.
In 1981, after opening the first Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Stewart immediately began offering his assistance to anyone and everyone that needed it – all while navigating the uncertainty of a new company. Local communities like Whitehouse and Flanker experienced unprecedented transformation through donated supplies, free repairs and meaningful sponsorships.
2009 saw a new milestone for the brand as son Adam Stewart, now Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts, decided to further organize these efforts by launching the Sandals Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Extending a reach far beyond Jamaica into Antigua, Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados and Turks & Caicos, the Sandals Foundation is committed to fulfilling the promise of the Caribbean community through investment in sustainable projects in Education, Environment and Community, directly improving lives and preserving surroundings, with a Corporate Social Responsibility Award presented in 2016 by World Travel Awards and new campaigns launching to eliminate single-use plastic and Styrofoam across all resorts.
Fast forwarding to the Sandals Foundation’s 10-year anniversary this March, the impact has been truly remarkable with the overall dollar amount of projects and programs implemented valued at over 58 million 
dollars and the total number of persons positively affected across the region is well over 850,000.
The organization’s impact touches more lives than just countries the brand has resorts in – during times of crisis, the Sandals Foundation has been on the ground following natural disasters in neighboring islands, including Haiti and Dominica and the Out Islands of the Bahamas. When guests visit Sandals and Beaches Resorts, they are directly supporting countless projects taking place all over the region, restoring hope and changing the face of the Caribbean for generations to come.
The Sandals Foundation and Stewart family are proud to have been recognized with this highly coveted award, and look forward to continuing the Foundation’s efforts to make a longstanding positive social impact.
To learn more about the Sandals Foundation and the positive impact it’s made throughout the Caribbean, please visitsandalsfoundation.org/about/our-mission
Release: Sandals Resorts
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The FCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has launched an annual scholarship in honor of former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who played a significant role in advancing the cruise trade association’s vision.
The annual gift of US$25,000 will be awarded to a different Caribbean destination each year to support the work of either an educational institution or a nonprofit organization chosen by the destination.
Barbados will receive the inaugural Owen Arthur scholarship, and next year’s scholarship destination winner will be announced at the ‘Shining Stars FCCA Foundation Dinner’ during Seatrade Cruise Global 2025.
“I am honored that the Foundation can continue the legacy of The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who truly inspired my career and empowered so many throughout the Caribbean, as well as making it possible to have the current partnership between the cruise industry and the Caribbean,” said Michele Paige, CEO, FCCA. “Hopefully this scholarship can live up to his memory by providing a platform for future generations in the region.”
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The historic UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States (SIDS) brought global attention to the significant challenges faced by small islands, underscoring that their concerns were big issues for all.
On April 26, several key figures who contributed to the 1994 Barbados meeting gathered in Bridgetown to commemorate its 30th
anniversary. The outcome of the 1994 meeting was the Barbados Program of Action, which delineated how the world community should address the unique vulnerabilities of islands, particularly in response to climate change.
Despite initial reluctance from powerful UN members to hold more than one SIDS conference, subsequent gatherings in Mauritius and Samoa and a fourth global conference scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024 are a testament to some of the successes of the SIDS process.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the international community will convene to review the sustainable development progress of SIDS and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to accelerate their journey toward resilient prosperity.
The Barbados meeting last month provided a reflective journey for many, as attendees, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, paid tribute to the late Ambassador Miles Stoby of Guyana, the visionary behind the initiative and for whom Barbados was, fittingly, a second
Caption: Ambassador Lyutha al Mughairy (widow of Ambassador Miles Stoby) greets Garth Sandiford, son of late Barbados Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford. Looking on are Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and former UN Under-Secretary General Peter Hansen.
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), held April 22-24 at Radisson Grenada Beach Resort was a resounding success.
The conference is the Caribbean’s foremost event for high-level networking and dialogue on sustainable tourism, providing a crucial platform for tourism policymakers, private sector stakeholders, thought leaders, and strategic partners to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Caribbean tourism.
The meeting highlighted the essential pillars necessary for creating a transformative and regenerative legacy under the theme “The 5 Ps for a Legacy of Caribbean Tourism Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose & Partnership”.
Thought-provoking addresses from Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, set the stage for discussions about the future of Caribbean tourism.
PM Mitchell stressed the need to include a broader array of stakeholders in the tourism conversation, while Stewart highlighted the importance of partnerships and unity within the sector. The conference was marked by authentic displays of Grenadian culture and dynamic panel sessions.
Caption: Adam Stewart of Sandals Resorts International delivered the keynote address.
The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
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