Sandals’ Adam Stewart Talks ‘Authentic All-Inclusives’ and Family Travel
Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, sat down with Skift President Carolyn Kremins this week at the Skift Global Forum for a fireside chat entitled “Crafting an Authentic Vision for All-Inclusive Hospitality.”
A key theme was the impact a major brand like Sandals can have on the economy of a destination, using Saint Vincent as a key example. “It’s clear that all tides rise together,” said Stewart. “Since entering Saint Vincent, we’ve seen visitor arrivals climb and airlift into the destination rise by over 300 percent. We’re excited to continue that momentum with plans to bring a new 360-room Beaches Resort to this incredible destination.”
Related: Sandals to Build Beaches Resort in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Stewart also took the opportunity to emphasize the brands’ broader role in the Caribbean economy, citing how it sources more than 80 percent of products locally in Jamaica, hires team members years in advance of openings in new destinations, and highlighting that 97 percent of its 20,000 team members are Caribbean nationals.
The talk also included the impact of the Sandals Foundation, which channels every dollar of its donations into education, the environment, and local communities. To date, the Foundation has invested nearly $115 million in projects that have positively impacted 1.7 million people across the region.
Investment in the Caribbean continues on the family travel front as well. Stewart told the assembled conference participants about what’s coming next for Beaches: the soon- to-open Treasure Beach Village expansion at Beaches Turks and Caicos, which will add 101 new suites, followed by upcoming resorts including the new Beaches Exuma; Beaches Barbados; and Beaches Runaway Bay in Jamaica. Together, these projects represent a US$1 billion investment to redefine family travel across the Caribbean.
“It’s been an incredible journey as a family to build a hospitality enterprise from the ground up and contribute to setting new standards in the industry,” said Stewart. “What excites us most is training and development – taking people with natural talent and helping them grow within a culture of hospitality that lets them truly shine.”
Related: Sandals’ Star-Studded Event Reveals Nearly $1B Beaches Expansion
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