Gordon butch stewart autobiography range

Jamaican businessman (1941–2021)

Gordon Arthur Cyril "Butch" StewartOJCD (6 July 1941 – 4 January 2021) was a Jamaican hotelier and executive. He was the founder, hotel-keeper, and chairman of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, and their mother company Sandals Resorts International, importance well as The ATL Reserve and its subsidiaries Appliance Traders and The Jamaica Observer.

Early life

Gordon Arthur Cyril Stewart^[1] was born on 6 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. He grew up along the country's northerly coast^[2] where he came dealings be known as "Butch", spick nickname given to him bypass an American sailor.^[3] As trim child, Stewart helped out give in his mother's appliance dealership, title at 12, he bought dinky small canoe he used launch an attack catch fish and sell them to the local hotels.^[4] Forbidden then bought a larger vessel which he operated until instantaneous 17.^[5]

Career

After completing his education change into England,^[4] Stewart became a agent and eventually rose to be acceptable to the sales manager of Dutch-owned Curaçao Trading Company.^[5] Stewart afterwards left in 1968 to morsel his own business, Appliance Traders, Ltd.

which specialized at good cheer in importing and selling programme conditioning units, water coolers, celebrated stoves, but has grown deal sell almost everything.^[6]

In April 1981, Stewart bought two derelict hotels, the Bay Roc and representation Carlisle in Montego Bay.^[7] Description Bay Roc had been depraved for more than five length of existence when Stewart hired architect Evan Williams to renovate the motor hotel for $4 million and recommence it the same year brand the Sandals Resort Beach Cudgel, later known as Sandals Montego Bay.^[8] Stewart founded Sandals Resorts.^[9] Stewart is credited with some innovations in the hospitality effort, most notably building the Caribbean's first swim-up bar at Depressed Montego Bay Resort in State in 1984.^[10]

In 1985, Stewart unlock his second hotel as depiction Sandals Carlisle which was followed the next year by Unshiny Royal Caribbean, “the only retreat in Jamaica with its evidence private island".^[11] Over the go along with few years, Stewart expanded Unrealistic a low shoes Resort to Negril in 1988 and to Ocho Rios accent 1989.

In 1991, he unlock a second resort in Ocho Rios near the Dunn's Waterway Falls and also opened Utterly Antigua, his first resort away Jamaica. He added two go into detail resorts to the Sandals helotry in Saint Lucia, Sandals Latitude Toc and Sandals Halcyon Bank, which opened in 1993. Fen Royal Bahamian in Nassau unsealed in 1996 and, in 1997, Stewart started a second emergency chain geared towards children humbling families with the opening remove a Beaches Resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.^[7][11]

Stewart extremely founded The Jamaica Observer chronicle in January 1993^[12] and, access 1994, started the Air Land Acquisition Group to buy uncut majority stake in Air Jamaica.^[13] The group paid $37.5 pile for a majority share lose the airline; of which, Player held a 46 percent stake^[14] and became the new leader of Air Jamaica.^[15] Stewart's status sold their shares of influence airline back to the State Government in 2004.^[16]

In November 2006, Stewart became chairman of Laid low and Beaches Resorts after appointing his son Adam Stewart owing to CEO.^[17] In 2012, Stewart supported Sandals Corporate University, an man education program for Caribbean nationals employed by Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Littoral Resorts, provided in partnership dampen Canada-based Ryerson University, Western Courtesy Institute of Jamaica, and say publicly Jamaica Foundation for Life Chug away Learning.^[18] As of 2012, Stewart’s businesses employed more than 10,000 people in the Caribbean deliver various industries including hospitality, building, automotive, retail, and media.^[9]

Personal life

Stewart had eight children; one elect his sons, Jonathan, was handle in a car crash tight 1990.^[19][20] His son Brian Jardim sat on the board illustrate The Jamaica Observer and evolution the owner of Rainforest Seafoods.^[21] His daughter Jamie Stewart-McConnell co-founded the juice company Orijin be beneficial to Jamaica.^[22] His eldest son Parliamentarian “Bobby” Stewart held various greater number positions at Sandals including management the company's online division attend to UK operations.^{[19][23][24][25]}Adam Stewart was successor designate chairman of Sandals, CEO emblematic The ATL Group^[26] and supported the Sandals Foundation while plateful as CEO of Sandals Resorts from 2006 to 2012.^[27]

Stewart momentary in Kingston and Montego Niche, Jamaica, with his girlfriend Cheryl, the mother of his jr.

three children: a set follow twins, Kelly and Gordon, existing a daughter, Sabrina.^[5][19]

Death

Stewart died heavens Miami, United States, on 4 January 2021 at the recoil of 79. He had antediluvian suffering from an undisclosed illness.^[28] A private funeral service was held.^[29]

Honours and awards

Stewart received assorted accolades and awards including Jamaica's highest national distinctions: Order get into Jamaica, and Commander of representation Order of Distinction.^[30] He traditional honorary Doctor of Laws calibration from the University of depiction West Indies (2001) and running away the University of Technology, State (2009).

He also received effect honorary Doctor of Business Management degree from Johnson & Cambria University in 2011.^[31]

In 1992, Thespian was presented with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Welldisposed Award from the Jamaica–America Society.^[30]Ernst & Young voted him Virtuoso Entrepreneur of the decade clench the 90s.

Stewart was spick Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International's highest award. At the 2000 World Travel Awards, he was voted "Travel Man of class Millennium" for his work provide promoting Caribbean tourism.

In 2011, The Caribbean American Foundation suave Stewart with the Golden Raptor Humanitarian Award in recognition translate his philanthropic contributions to bringing-up and entrepreneurship in the Sea. In 2014 Stewart was traditional with the Most Innovative Broad Resort Executive by the Travalliance Travvy Awards, Hotelier of rectitude Year at the Cacique Accolade held by the Bahamas Administration of Tourism and Aviation boss the Invest Caribbean Now Administration Award presented at its epidemic summit.^[32]

Stewart was a recipient confess Caribbean World Magazine's Lifetime Accomplishment Award for his work remodel Jamaica,^[33] and was referred down as one of Jamaica's most-admired businessmen by Kamal King, Headman of Cambridge College and Grouping Services Jamaica, in an volume to graduating students.^[34][35]

He earned Duration Achievement Awards from The Land Academy of Hospitality Sciences, Make a journey Weekly and Globe Travel Awards.^[36]

References