Bahamas News
Sandals Chief Calls Tourism ‘the greatest industry in the world,’ promises evolution and innovation to the all-inclusive model
Adam Stewart Unveils Sandals 2.0 at ASTA Conference
#TheBahamas, September 14, 2022 – Calling tourism “the greatest industry in the world,” the executive chairman of Sandals today outlined a future highlighted by evolution and innovation to keep the Caribbean’s best-known hotel chain cutting edge and remain the regional hospitality leader.
Adam Stewart, Sandals Executive Chairman, unveiled a new vision called Sandals 2.0 as he addressed nearly 500 travel agents and advisors from the US, Canada and the Caribbean during a meeting of ASTA, their professional association, at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, Bahamas.
Recalling the exact moment in March 2020 when he got the call that COVID was shutting down worldwide travel, Stewart said “it felt like the sky was falling.”
“I was sitting in my home on the beach in Jamaica and I looked outside to my left,” he said, describing the magic that makes the Caribbean so desirable. “The sky had never been so blue, the water had never been so clear, the sand had never been so white, the view had never been so beautiful and the word resilience popped into my mind.” Never for a moment, he continued, did he buy into “the false narrative” that travel would not rebound. “We had a team of 15,000 people looking at us and saying, ‘What now?’ We went into high gear to keep the eco-system of Caribbean tourism at large and that of Sandals Resorts International, going. Not only would we be ready, we’d be first.”
Stewart told a rapt audience that the Sandals team spent the down time further enhancing plans.
What they could not have planned for was the sudden, untimely death of Sandals’ founder, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart in January 2021. The younger Stewart, who had spent his youth and career working for the company and learning from his father assumed the lead, and he used today’s occasion to express what others in the room felt – immeasurable respect and admiration for the man who envisioned Sandals and grew it from a single hotel to the best-known brand in the region.
“For the 29th consecutive year, Sandals won the World Travel Awards,” he announced, crediting his late father with creating “the only superbrand to come out of the Caribbean.”
“There is a re-set taking place in Caribbean travel,” he said. “There is more natural beauty in this region than anywhere else in the world and we want to share it all with our guests.
“We don’t want what travel once was,” he said. “We want to take it where it can go. We want it to blow your mind.”
Under the umbrella of Sandals 2.0, plans include going through every hotel and seeing how it can be enhanced, upgraded, what new elements can be included.
“Over the coming couple of years with the opening of new properties in St Vincent and Dunn’s River in Jamaica not only will we be enhancing our offerings but also adding about 3,000 staff members across the board,” he said.
In Nassau, Sandals Royal Bahamian Phase 1 is complete with further enhancements to the property on target. Sandals Royal Curacao will be the first in the brand to take the all-inclusive concept to the next frontier with guests at certain levels being offered a Mini convertible and certificates for on-island dining at outside restaurants, an experience that will be offered at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau next.
This next frontier for the all-inclusive tradition is part of Stewart’s cultural immersion plan, understanding that guests want sun, sea, sand but they also want to know the people and the islands they visit.
In Jamaica Sandals Dunn’s River and Beaches (family brand) Runaway Bay will be enhanced with 3- and 4-bedroom suites, along with a property in St Vincent. Also, to be added is a Greg Norman golf course for Beaches Runaway Bay. Additionally, some properties will feature overwater bungalows.
Stewart expressed deep gratitude and respect for the travel advisors’ love affair with the Caribbean and told them Sandals would not be where it is today had it not been for their support and that he, like his late father who knew and depended on their trust for over four decades, pledged his commitment to share the four corners of the Caribbean with the world.
Photo Caption: Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart announced Caribbean and Bahamas expansion plans during the ASTA 2022 Showcase at Sandals Royal Bahamian this week. Nearly 500 industry partners gave Stewart a spontaneous, rousing standing ovation following his remarks.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
