#Caribbean – January 5, 2020 — “Unbelievable” is how his son and Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart described the passing of his father – the founder of Sandals Resorts International – in a memorandum to general managers and Directors of their resorts and companies around the region.
It was just last week that
Butch Stewart was reaffirming his commitment to these islands with the
reopening of Beaches Turks and Caicos on December 21. In a joint statement Stewart had said: “We are committed to this long-term
agreement and working together for the betterment of the country. I wish to
commend those who work tirelessly to put Turks and Caicos on the map; our
incredible staff and the dedicated executive team led by the steadfast Adam
Stewart. We will now turn our attention to what we do best: introducing the
World to the beauty and hospitality of these extraordinary Islands.”
Those were the Chairman’s
final publically expressed words to Turks and Caicos as the largest employer in
the private sector and a 25-year investor.
Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart died at
hospital in Florida informed one news agency out of Jamaica; after 52 years in
business on his own, he had amassed the most celebrated all-inclusive resorts
in the world. A Caribbean man, employing
some 10,000 people across more than 20 hotel properties in the most sought
after islands at the most stunning vistas in the region.
St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada,
Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and his home country of
Jamaica will be especially grieved by the passing of this business titan and
Caribbean icon.
The Hon Stewart had reportedly
been ailing a long time and the younger likeness of Butch, Adam Stewart
explained: “he chose to keep a very recent health diagnosis private and we
respected that wish.”
Already there is an outpouring
of shock and sadness at the loss of the resort mogul who is hailed as a
marketing genius, who “lived a big life – husband, father, grandfather, great
grandfather, entrepreneur, statesman, dreamer…” said Adam Stewart in that memo.
“Together, we have all been
part of something bigger than ourselves, led by a man who believed in us and
who gave us opportunities to learn, grow and the tools to make dreams real. For him and because of him, we will continue
to dream big and deliver on his certainty that true luxury is always best
enjoyed by the sea.”
There is also concern among some
staffers spanning industries including hospitality, travel, automotive, resort
and media and to quell fears, there was this from Adam: “While I need to be with family right now, I
look forward to speaking with you soon and sharing thoughts about the
incredible future of this company built by this most incredible man.”
A big dreamer, said his son,
who could dream bigger than anyone; he now rests and his many companies and
dreams live on with an indelible legacy which will undoubtedly be played and
replayed over the coming days and as the region comes to grips with the death
and the loss of Gordon Stewart.
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