Government leaders and tourism executives Tuesday paid glowing tribute to Jamaican hotel magnate Gordon Butch Stewart for the mark he made on Barbadian and Caribbean tourism.
Stewart, founder of Sandals Resorts International, died on Monday at age 79 in the United States where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Following his death, tributes from across the tourism industry have described him as an unstoppable force of an entrepreneur who set high standards for the Caribbean tourism product.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley said that the hotelier’s association with Barbados and Barbadians has been long, even if at times contentious, adding that “this country has benefitted from his investment”.
“There can be no denying that Barbados’ tourism product is the better today because of the presence of Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados,” she said.
Mottley described Stewart as the quintessential Jamaican, from his accent to his antics and noted that in everything he did, he represented his country well, always wearing the Jamaica motto with pride: “Out of many, one people”.
She said it was impossible to share a space with Stewart and not be drawn to his infectious laughter and warm personality, which she said were no doubt products of his Jamaican heritage.
The Prime Minister declared: “But for him, love of his country never translated into insularity, for he was always the consummate Caribbean man. The success of his Sandals brand, a name that he has indelibly imprinted on the Caribbean landscape, will no doubt serve as a monument to his Caribbeanness for generations to come.”
She said the region has definitely lost a great son who put Sandals, as a Caribbean brand, on the global landscape.
Minister of Tourism Senator Lisa Cummins said Stewart was a visionary who transformed the tourism industry over the course of over four decades.
Senator Cummins said: “Butch’s spirit of entrepreneurship positioned him as a pioneer and innovator long before his time. On behalf of the Government of Barbados, I would like to offer my condolences to the Stewart family, and also to Minister Bartlett and the people of Jamaica.”
Stewart, who was also the owner of the Jamaica Observer, was an “outstanding entrepreneur who has made an indelible contribution to the development of media services, tourism investment and other areas of business in the region and worldwide”, according to Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams.
Chairman of the Barbados Hotel Tourism Association (BHTA), Geoffrey Roach said the untimely passing of Stewart is a significant loss to the Caribbean, and extended condolences to his family and the Sandals family at large, on behalf of those in the local tourism industry.
“His contribution to the Caribbean tourism industry has been significant beyond belief. And we know that his hard work will live on for many years to come and has certainly been a benefit to the tourism industry in the Caribbean,” Roach said.
In a glowing tribute, Vice Chancellor of University of the West Indies Professor Sir Hilary Beckles said Stuart was the embodiment of the legendary Jamaican spirit that has captured the world.
The historian said: “Our Butch, like Bob and Bolt, represents this cultural spirit of the ages. It is born to be brash, brave and brilliant, constituting a cascading commitment to nation building and regional renaissance.
Our Butch was the ‘stewart’ of this spirit and gave to Jamaica, the Caribbean and the world a performance of sheer class with cool runnings—a ‘sandalization’ of awe and amazement.
“We experienced in his innovative entrepreneurship, the eruptive excellence of a son produced and nurtured by a soil rich in history and fertile for the future. He integrated and domesticated his Caribbean like no entrepreneurial other, and demanded ownership everywhere the ‘sandals sea’ swept upon our shores.”
The Caribbean Tourism Organisation said Stewart was a mentor to many, and his contributions have touched almost every sector of Jamaican and Caribbean society.
Ina statement, the association of public and private sector industry executives said: “His passing is a great loss to the entire region. He was a true travel and tourism and business icon and his legacy will shape future generations.”
Acting CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Vanessa Ledesma said the industry will forever be indebted to Stewart for his continued excellence and legendary Caribbean hospitality.
Ledesma said his vision has bestowed to the global industry a Caribbean organization that adheres to the highest standards of excellence, celebrates and promotes the region’s uniqueness, and invests in the development of our people and communities.
She said: “Mr Stewart, one of the first recipients of the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year distinction was a great supporter of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association an inspiration to so many of us in the region. Let us preserve and build upon his legacy by continuing to support the development of our industry.”
In a press statement highlighting Stewart’s life, Sandals Resorts International indicated that the son of Jamaica was an unstoppable force, who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations and single-handedly built the world’s most awarded vacation brand from one resort in Jamaica to over two dozen distinct resorts and villas throughout the Caribbean. Stewart’s leadership helped him resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry and earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of his countrymen.
Gordon Butch is survived by his wife Cheryl, children Brian, Bobby, Adam, Jaime, Sabrina, Gordon, and Kelly, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A private funeral is to be held.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)
