Gordon "Butch" Stewart

Gordon "Butch" Stewart OJ, CD, HON. LLD was born 6 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica to Gordon L. Stewart, an engineer for JBC and Jean, his wife.[1][2] He is a Jamaican businessman and the owner or Chairman of over two dozen companies throughout the Caribbean, North America and Great Britain. These companies include: Sandals Resorts,[3] Beaches Family Resorts,[4] Appliance Traders, Ltd.,[1] The Jamaica Observer,[1] among others.

Stewart began working at the age of 17 as a salesman and eventually rose to become the sales manager of Dutch-owned Curaçao Trading Company. After saving up some money, Stewart later left in 1968 to found his own business, Appliance Traders, Ltd. which specialized at first in manufacturing air conditioning units but has grown to sell almost everything. The company also founded the Jamaica Observer newspaper.[5]

In 1981 Stewart purchased two hotels and began to turn the venture into a profit with heavy investment. A number of years later he purchased Sandals Resorts Royal Caribbean which catered for an adult-only clientele. The brand 'Beaches' was developed for families while the company expanded around the Caribbean.[5]

Stewart was a recipient of Caribbean World Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in Jamaica,[6] and has been called one of Jamaica's most-admired businessmen, by Kamal King President of Cambridge College and Community Services Jamaica in an address to graduating students.[7]

Most recently, Stewart founded Sandals Corporate University, aimed at providing professional development for employees through reputable education and training programs. With access to more than 230 courses and external partnerships with 13 top-ranking local and international universities, every staff member has the opportunity to apply, broaden their knowledge and advance their career.

Stewart’s successes in business and in life have earned him more than fifty local, regional and international accolades and awards including Jamaica’s highest national distinctions: The Order of Jamaica O.J, and Commander of the Order of Distinction C.D. He is the 2001 recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Laws LLD from the University of the West Indies and also the 2009 recipient from the University of Technology. In 1992, Stewart was presented with the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award in recognition of his tireless efforts to advance humanity. Emst & Young voted him Master Entrepreneur of the decade of the 90s. Stewart is a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International's highest award. At the 2000 World Travel Awards, he was voted “Travel Man of the Millennium” for his work in promoting Caribbean tourism. In 2011, The Caribbean American Foundation presented Stewart with the Golden Eagle Humanitarian Award in recognition of his philanthropic contributions to education and entrepreneurship in the Caribbean. In 2014 Stewart was honored with the Most Innovative All-Inclusive Resort Executive by the Travalliance Travvy Awards, Hotelier of the Year at the Cacique Award held by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Invest Caribbean Now Leadership Award presented at its global summit.

He has earned Lifetime Achievement Awards from The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, Travel Weekly and Globe Travel Awards and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from hospitality authority, Johnson & Wales University. He is one of Jamaica’s most visible and respected personalities, making him a formidable ambassador for brand Jamaica where since 2010 he has served as Chair of JAMPRO, the country's Investment and Promotions agency.

Stewart is a devoted father and grandfather. His son, Adam Stewart is currently CEO of Sandals Resorts International and president of the Sandals Foundation. His daughter Jamie Stewart-McConnell was formerly a brand manager at Royal Plantation,[8] while his eldest son Brian Jardim sits on the Board of the Jamaica Observer and is the owner of Rainforest, a seafood import company.[9] One of his sons, Jonathan, was killed in a car crash in 1990.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caribbean Heroes". Grenadian Connection. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  2. ↑ "Father memorial service" Olivia Leigh Campbell,'Butch' Stewart's dad remembered as 'human to the core', Jamaica Observer, 7 January 2003
  3. ↑ Anthea McGibbon (13 January 2008). "Gigangic Gigantic Love from the Arts". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  4. ↑ "Fast-Forward 25 years, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart's Empire Has Grown from One Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica to 18 Resorts on Five Islands". Hotel Online. 4 November 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  5. 1 2 "Story of Gorden Steward" Johnny Ringo, 'The Story of Gordon 'Butch' Stewart' and Sandals Resorts' Caribbean Current, 16 March 2013
  6. ↑ "Lifetime Achievement Award for Jefferis". Bermuda Sun. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  7. ↑ "Jamaica's Most Admired Business Leaders". Jamaica Gleaner. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  8. ↑ "Orijin article" Barbara Ellington, 'Stewart-McConnell Gives Birth To Orijin', Jamaica Gleaner, 2 February 2012
  9. ↑ "Brian Jardim" Staffwriter, 'Brian Jardim named to Observer board' Jamaica Observer, 15 June 2012
  10. ↑ "Sandals interview" Judith Baker, 'Interview: The Stewarts on Sandals, business and family values', Travel Weekly, 15 January 2009
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