THE HON. GORDON “BUTCH” STEWART O.J. 1941-2021: LEGENDARY JAMAICAN ENTREPRENEUR REDEFINED ‘ALL-INCLUSIVE’ AND CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD WENT ON VACATION
~Master Marketer Made Sandals a Household Name, Brought Opportunity to the Caribbean~
January 5, 2021 –
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – Legendary Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon “Butch” Stewart, one of the
hospitality industry’s most vibrant personalities and founder of Sandals
Resorts International, the world’s leading all-inclusive resort company, has
died at the age of 79. An unstoppable
force, who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations, Stewart
single-handedly built the world’s most awarded vacation brand from one resort in
Jamaica to over two dozen distinct resorts and villas throughout the Caribbean.
A son of Jamaica, Butch Stewart was
born in Kingston on July 6, 1941 and grew up along the island country’s North
Coast, a tropical paradise that now boasts several of his Luxury Included®
Sandals and Beaches Resorts and where his love of the sea, dominoes and free
enterprise were sown. Certain from the
start that he wanted to run his own company, at the tender age of 12, Stewart
first stepped into the hospitality industry selling fresh-caught fish to local
hotels. His success got him ‘hooked’ and
his enthusiasm for entrepreneurship never waned.
After completing his
secondary education abroad, Stewart returned home to Jamaica where he
demonstrated his innate talent as master salesman at the renowned Dutch-owned
Curaçao Trading Company, quickly rising to the position of sales manager but
itching to start his own company. In
1968, Stewart took his chance. With no
collateral but recognizing the comfort that would make air conditioning an essential
service, Stewart convinced American manufacturer Fedders Corporation to allow
him to represent their brand in Jamaica.
With that, Stewart’s foundational business – Appliance Traders Limited
(ATL), was born and he was on his way.
At
ATL, Stewart developed a simple business philosophy he articulated many times: “Find
out what people want, give it to them and in doing so – exceed their expectations.” This
would become the standard for every Stewart enterprise and practiced by every
employee of the many companies Stewart would go on to found, including and
perhaps most importantly, Sandals Resorts International.
Stewart
Founds Sandals Resorts
In 1981,
with a gift for recognizing opportunity, Stewart found one in Bay Roc: a
rundown hotel on a magnificent beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Seven months and $4 million in renovations
later, Sandals Montego Bay would open as the flagship of what is today the most
popular award-winning, all-inclusiveresort chain in the world.
While
Stewart never laid claim to inventing the all-inclusive concept, he is
recognized worldwide for his tireless effort to elevate the experience,
delivering to his guests an unsurpassed level of luxury, and to share his certainty
that a Caribbean company could successfully compete with any organization in the
world. He accomplished both.
“I had heard of the concept, yet at the time, the
services and rooms were very basic. Contrary to that, I envisioned we could
bring forward a luxury resort to offer customers so much more. So, we perfected
it. Only the most comfortable king size four poster beds, fine manicured
gardens, cozy hammocks and the kind of warm, refined service the Caribbean has
become known for. Just as important was to be located on the absolute best
beach, because that’s what everyone dreams of.”
Where other
so-called “all-inclusives” offered meals and rooms at a set rate, Sandals
Resorts’ prices covered gourmet dining options, premium brand drinks,
gratuities, airport transfers, taxes and all land and watersport
activities. The competitors’ meals were
buffet-style, so Stewart created 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. More recent innovations have
included a signature spa concept – Red Lane® Spa, signature luxury suites
designed for privacy and ultimate pampering, complimentary WiFi, and signature partnerships
with iconic organizations such as Microsoft Xbox® Play Lounge, Sesame Workshop,
PADI, Mondavi® Wines, Greg Norman Signature Golf courses and the London-based
Guild of Professional English Butlers. And in 2017, Stewart introduced the
Caribbean’s first over-the-water
accommodations, which were quickly expanded to include Over-the-Water
bars and Over-the-Water wedding chapels.
By steadfastly adhering to the “we can do it better”
principle of pleasing his guests, Stewart fostered a company free to imagine
and free to consistently raise the bar.
This ethos 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 returning 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.
Butch Stewart loved Sandals. At the time of his passing, he was hard at
work on plans for the recently announced expansions to the Dutch island of Curaçao
and St. Vincent.
Stewart As Statesman
Stewart’s leadership
helped resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry and earned him 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 into 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 in the mid-80s, ably balancing 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.
It was not the first time Stewart would come to the aid of
his country. In 1992, he galvanized the
admiration of Jamaicans with the “Butch
Stewart Initiative,” pumping US$1 million a week into the official
foreign exchange market at below prevailing rates to help halt the slide of the
Jamaican dollar. Dr Henry Lowe, at the
time president and CEO of Blue Cross, wrote to Stewart saying: “I write to
offer sincere congratulations to you for the tremendous initiative which has
done so much, not only for the strengthening of our currency, but more so, for
the new feeling of hope and positive outlook which is now being experienced by
all of us as Jamaicans.”
Less well-known may be the extent of Stewart’s considerable
philanthropy, where for more than 40 years he has helped improve and shape the
lives of Caribbean people. His work,
formalized with the creation in 2009 of The Sandals Foundation, offers support
ranging from the building of schools and paying of teachers to bringing
healthcare to the doorsteps of those who cannot afford it. This in addition to
his tireless support of a wide range of environmental initiatives. Beyond the
work of the Foundation, Stewart has given millions to charitable causes such as
celebrating the bravery of veterans and first responders and helping those in
the wake of devastating hurricanes.
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 can 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.). In 2017, Stewart 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. “The success of Sandals has helped to power
the growth of the tourism industry and economies not only in Jamaica but
throughout the Caribbean,” said BHN president Jim Burba. “The word ‘icon’ certainly applies to Butch
Stewart.”
It delighted Stewart
whenever he was dining anywhere in the world and an excited staff member would
share with him, “Thank you. I got my
start at Sandals.”
Father & Son
Butch Stewart,
The Man
With his easy pace,
infectious warmth and trademark striped shirt, Stewart exuded an
approachability that belied the complexity of his character. While he was an acute businessperson, who at
the time of his death was responsible for a Jamaican-based empire that includes
two dozen diverse companies collectively representing Jamaica’s largest private
sector group, the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner and its largest
non-government employer, he was an extremely private man whose deepest devotion
was to his family.
His greatest test
came in 1989 when his beloved 24-year-old son Jonathan was killed in a car
accident in Miami. Stewart recalled the
incident in a 2008 interview, “For two months after he died, I was absolutely
useless, and after that I was sort of running on remote control. Things were a
blur. It’s every parent’s nightmare.
After a year or so, I started to see things in vivid detail. You have to
get busy, be close with your family. It did a lot in terms of me getting
closer. There’s a lot more satisfaction.”
Early days of building business for Caribbean tourism
Stewart was able to return
to his relentless pace, and the consensus among those who knew him best is that
he did it by leading by example. “If you are going to lead, you have to
participate,” Stewart was fond of saying.
He believed that if everyone in the organization recognized that the man
in charge was working as hard as they were, they’d have an infinite amount of
respect and motivation. “It’s about instilling a spirit of teamwork, defining a
purpose and then rolling up your sleeves to get the job done better than
anybody else,” Stewart said.
The
company Butch Stewart built remains wholly owned by the Stewart family, who, in honor of Mr.
Stewart’s long-term succession plans, has named Adam Stewart Chairman of Sandals
Resorts International, extending his formidable leadership of the brands he has
shepherded since he was appointed CEO in 2007.
Butch (Hon Gordon Stewart) and Branson (Sir Richard Branson) travel titans
Speaking on behalf
of his family, Adam Stewart said, “our father was a singular
personality; an unstoppable force who delighted in defying the odds by
exceeding expectations and whose passion for his family was matched only by the
people and possibility of the Caribbean, for whom he was a fierce champion. Nothing, except maybe a great fishing day,
could come before family to my dad.
And while the world understood him to be a phenomenal businessman –
which he was, his first and most important devotion was always to us. We will miss him terribly forever.”
Adam Stewart named 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.
A private funeral
service will be held. Those wishing to share memories, condolences or personal
stories may do so at AllThatsGood@sandals.com
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KINGSTON, Jamaica– President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig, has praised the strength of local and regional public-private sector partnerships, while congratulating tourism stakeholders across Jamaica for their strong level of preparedness in weathering the dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Beryl, which impacted the island this week.
“Jamaica was spared the worst of the hurricane and we have now returned to regular business operations,” said Madden-Greig, who rode out the storm at her office in Kingston. She reported that Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios opened today, while Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will open on Friday, July 5, after minor repairs are completed.
“We have no reports of any guests being injured during the passage of the storm, and the majority of the hotels and the tourism industry in general have emerged unscathed,” Madden-Greig added.
However, she expressed concerns for the south coast of the island, where many local communities were impacted, along with several independent hotels and villa operations.
“We will be including these operators in our disaster relief efforts, particularly in the Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth area,” she noted, explaining however that she had little doubt that this resilient community will rebound in the shortest possible time.
The trade association leader was encouraged with the reports emanating from the Cayman Islands, which confirmed no major impact on the sector there. “We are thankful to God for sparing us for the most part, and we are now resolved to getting our industry back on track, while serving communities (especially those in the Grenadines) who are in dire need at this time,” said Madden-Greig.
Individuals, businesses and organizations that want to contribute to regional hurricane relief efforts may make a monetary donation atwww.chtaef.com.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is committed to work with Member States and other stakeholders to implement a “forward-thinking regional migration policy,” according to its Assistant Secretary General, Alison Drayton.
Addressing the opening of a recent three-day workshop titled “Towards a Regional Approach to a Migration Policy in the Caribbean,” in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, she said it is evident that the Region has been facing, and will continue to face, various challenges that affect the lives and livelihoods of Caribbean citizens.
“Namely, due to Climate Change, which has amplified displacements and the need for persons to migrate from areas that threaten their livelihoods or limit their opportunities to prosper and provide for their families,” the ASG told the forum, adding that the Climate Change and natural disasters remain “key drivers of displacements in the Region.”
“With the frequency and magnitude of events likely to increase in the future, this has contributed to many regional States facing demographic decline, which has impacted their workforce, our younger population seeking job opportunities outside the Region, and many key sectors being negatively impacted,” she stated.
The CARICOM official underscored that tackling the challenges would be “a tall order,” hence the Regional body’s commitment that would help address various aspects of Regional migration and human mobility as determined by Member State priorities.
Lauding the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the workshop, and the and valuable technical contributions made by the United Nations (UN) Migration Group and financial contributions from the United States Department of State, the European Union, and the Inter-American Development Bank, she said the their efforts have been significant.
The contribution made by International Organization for Migration (IOM), has advanced the policy, with provision of consultancies to coordinate the Community’s work through the Regional Approach to Migration Policy (RAMP) Steering Committee and development of the framework, she highlighted.
For Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister, the Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, his country is also committed to contributing to the development of a regional migration policy framework that reflects the priorities of the people of the Caribbean Community.
“As we embark on this journey together, let us harness the expertise, the insights and the experiences that we already have among us as we gather here today to shape the policy framework that is in front of us,” the Minister said, adding that the current migration realities “should prepare us for future challenges.”
The technical workshop brought together National Focal Points from the CARICOM Member States, and representatives of relevant regional and international organisations, building on IOM’s Migration Governance Indicator (MGI) assessments, and other consultations held with national Governments of CARICOM Member States in 2023.
#Kingston, Jamaica, July 19, 2024 – The Government has earmarked $300 million to ramp up dengue mitigation activities, inclusive of fogging, treatment of mosquito breeding sites, removal of bulky waste and drain cleaning, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
Addressing the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 16), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the funds have been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which will spearhead vector-control activities over the next six weeks.
He further informed that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and National Works Agency (NWA), “are technically involved in this dengue mitigation [exercise] by trying to clear the environmental conditions that would create the growth in the vector”.
Mr. Holness highlighted the potential for a significant increase in the dengue vector, the Aedes aegpyti mosquito, which breeds primarily in containers, consequent on the hurricane’s passage.
“We know that many communities are being plagued by the increase in the mosquito population… and other vectors [such as] roaches, rats and flies. Therefore, the cleanup and removal and clearing of waterlogged areas is of critical importance,” he emphasised.
The Prime Minister noted that the hot summer conditions, along with rainfall, will further contribute to heightening the possibility of an increase in these vectors and the transmission of diseases.
As such, he appealed to Jamaicans to properly store water in covered containers and destroy mosquito breeding sites around their homes.
“I urge all homeowners who are storing water and… leaving the containers open, that an easy way to control the growth of the mosquito population in your households is to cover the containers,” Mr. Holness said.
He pointed out that the NSWMA will shortly announce a schedule for the removal of bulky waste from homes.
Prime Minister Holness further indicated that the NWA will be actively cleaning various gullies.
Dengue symptoms include fever, headache, and joint and muscle pains. These are often resolved through rest and adequate hydration along with the use of paracetamol to treat the accompanying fever.