I join the leadership and management of Caribbean hotel and tourism development through the years to mourn the loss of world-renowned entrepreneur and hospitality industry mogul Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 in the United States at the age of 79.
Forty years ago, Mr Stewart, the founder of Sandals Resorts International, took his chances on a rundown beachfront hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and developed it to become the flagship in a chain of 15 all-inclusive, luxury resorts that significantly enhanced the region’s place in the global travel market.
I remember working for the Lester Bird administration to facilitate his entry into the Antigua and Barbuda hotel and tourism sector back in 1997 with the purchase of the Anchorage property at Dickenson Bay and the establishment of the first of two Sandals resorts in Antigua and Barbuda.
It was clear to me then that Mr Stewart was a gifted entrepreneur and true Caribbean patriot committed to using his business ventures as tools in the economic empowerment of the region.
Twenty-four years later, Sandals’ contributions to the Antigua and Barbuda economy top $100 million per year and the international advertising of the Sandals brand has delivered huge promotion and airlift benefits for our destination, well beyond the reach of the nation’s marketing budget.
The story is pretty much the same in every Caribbean country where travellers are able to enjoy the Sandals experience. His phenomenal success — from selling his freshly caught fish to Jamaican hotels at age 12, to building a world-famous hotel brand — is deeply inspirational for Caribbean people optimistic about our ability to claim a lucrative place in the global travel market.
He studied briefly in England and after working as sales manager for the Dutch-owned Curaçao Trading Company in Jamaica, he started his first business selling air-conditioners and installing them at any time of the day or night consistent with his overarching business philosophy, which according to his son Adam Stewart was: “Find out what people want, give it to them and, in doing so, exceed their expectations.”
After setting up Sandals Resorts International to cater for couples, Mr Stewart moved into family-oriented Beaches Resorts. At the time of his death, that hospitality business model was in the process of expanding in St. Vincent and the Dutch island of Curaçao.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 6, 1941, Mr Stewart was the oldest of three children of Gordon Leslie Stewart and Jean (Townsend) Stewart. He grew up on the North coast of Jamaica in the Parish of St Ann where the financial struggles of his family pushed him at a very tender age to get involved in providing for them, according to Adam Stewart.
A humble man; a sincere, practical, hardworking, down-to-earth man who always put people first. He cared deeply about the success of his employees and the wellbeing and progress of the economies in which his business ventures operated.
We all remember the 1992 Butch Stewart initiative to pump $1 million per week into the foreign exchange market to help shore up the struggling Jamaican dollar. We remember as well, his 1994 take-over of the financially strapped, state-owned Air Jamaica – the region’s largest carrier.
Butch Stewart worked selflessly and tirelessly in the interest of the regional hotel and tourism industry to add routes and improve the Air Jamaica service.
He created the Sandals Foundation in 2009. It supports primarily building of schools and access to education and health care in the countries where the company operates resorts.
His outstanding contribution to socio-economic development in his homeland has been recognized with the award of Jamaica’s highest honors, including the Order of Jamaica.
Gordon “Butch” Stewart is survived by his wife, Cheryl; his mother, Jean; a sister, Pat; his sons Adam, Brian, Bobby and Gordon; his daughters, Jaime, Sabrina and Kelly; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and the loss of his visionary leadership for the advancement of Caribbean society. May his soul rest in peace.
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