The late Founder and Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, the Hon. Mr. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart OJ, CD, Hon. LLD, has been honoured by the Government of Saint Lucia with the award of the Saint Lucia Cross (SLC).
The announcement was made as the Caribbean nation marked its 42nd anniversary of Independence.
The late Sandals Chairman was lauded for distinguished service in the field of tourism, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
In accepting the award on behalf of the Stewart family, his son Adam Stewart CD, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, expressed thanks to the Governor General, Prime Minister and Government, as well as the people of Saint Lucia and the close to 1,700 Sandals team members, adding that his family was very humbled to accept the award.
“My dad has held a special love for Saint Lucia and its people for almost three decades, since he first came here. My family and I are beyond humbled. We feel truly blessed and appreciative to be a part of this society and for this recognition bestowed on my dad is beyond words. I know he would be extremely proud to have received such an honour just as I also know that the investment he made in Saint Lucia was always a labour of love, and that it was his privilege in contributing to making Saint Lucia one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the world. Saint Lucia, we will continue to stand by you, we love you and we appreciate you.”
Sandals Resorts International opened its first hotel in Saint Lucia; the Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa some 28 years ago, and now has three resorts in Saint Lucia with the addition of Sandals Halycon Beach Resort and Spa, and the Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Beach Resort and Spa. The resort company has also completed work on the new 18-hole Greg Norman-designed Sandals Golf and Country Club at Cap Estate.
Today Sandals stands as Saint Lucia’s largest hotel company and a leading private sector employer, as well as a major foreign exchange earner and contributor to GDP.
In commenting on the passing of the late Sandals Chairman in January, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, the Hon. Allen Chastanet noted, “Thousands of persons in this region have jobs and careers because of ‘Butch’ Stewart, the world knows more about the Caribbean and Saint Lucia because of ‘Butch’ Stewart, our tourism product is surviving in spite of COVID in large measure because of ‘Butch Stewart’ and the Caribbean tourism industry is as strong as it is today because of ‘Butch’ Stewart.”
