Coinciding with Earth Day (April 22), Sandals Resorts International (SRI), unveiled its Corporate Social Responsibility Report, offering a sweeping look at the company’s ongoing promise to protect and uplift the Caribbean – “the place it calls home.” Titled ‘Love Exceeds Expectations,’ the report showcases more than 40 years of impact, innovation, and stewardship across education, community, and the environment.
The legacy, which started in the early ‘80s with a mandate to support local schools, has since expanded to include initiatives ranging from preserving ancient trees and successfully planting coral fragments with a 90% survival rate to providing schools with essential supplies.
“Many may not realize that Sandals is a family-owned company, born in Jamaica and dedicated to ensuring that tourism benefits Caribbean people, communities and the natural beauty that makes our home one of the most beautiful places in all the world,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.
“We aim to connect our guests more deeply to the Caribbean so when they visit us, they will understand that they, too, are part of this effort that supports local farmers, empowers people through education, and restores coral reefs. This is who we are and at the core of everything we do, and we’re excited to share it.”
The report highlights a range of impactful Sandals programs, including:
● Investing US$115 million in community programs that have touched the lives of 1.7 million people across the Caribbean through the work of SRI’s not-for-profit Sandals Foundation. Founded in 2009, 100% of every dollar donated to the Sandals Foundation goes directly towards funding meaningful initiatives in education, community and the environment.
● Buying locally. In Jamaica, SRI’s home country for example, 81% of all annual purchases are made with local suppliers and nearly all produce, a staggering 90%, is grown in Jamaica by local farmers, accounting for 4.5 million pounds of fruits and vegetables and 360,000 dozen eggs annually.
● Partnering with the Grenada Network of Rural Women Producers and supporting the career growth of over 75 female farmers through the mass purchasing of their products and funding.
● Planting nearly 30,000 trees as part of reforestation, coastal protection and food resilience efforts.
● Protecting sea turtles through conservation partnerships with local organizations such as the Bluefields Bay Fishermen’s Friendly Society (BBFFS) in Jamaica and Ocean Spirits in Grenada. Since 2015, SRI has helped over 250,000 sea turtle hatchlings make it to the sea.
● Recognizing the contribution of women to the economic success of the Caribbean. Women make up 51.3% of the SRI workforce with nearly half holding management positions. For many women in the developing countries of the Caribbean, access and opportunity seem impossible. Initiatives like Women Helping Others Achieve (WHOA), managed by the Sandals Foundation, are helping to change that.
● Elevating local talent through 100% enrollment of SRI team members in the Sandals Corporate University, offering ongoing occupational training and the opportunity to earn undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at no cost.
● Partnering with professional football club AFC Ajax and local Curaçaon recycling company Limpi to turn 1.3 million pounds of plastic waste and 190 sq. m. of ghost fishing nets into 64 football goals for children.
While the report dives into everything from youth empowerment to healthcare programming and sustainable food waste management, it also mirrors a company constantly evolving.
Recent brand initiatives include the launch of ‘Island Inclusive,’ the off-site dining program where select Sandals guests can enjoy dining experiences at local restaurants, giving meaningful opportunities to local entrepreneurs; Beaches’ commitment to autism-friendly vacations, offering IBCCES trained staff, inclusive programming, and personalized services for families with neurodivergent travellers; and the Artisan Program, a full circle initiative teaching creators how to develop and distribute their products, including the opportunity to sell at weekly “meet the maker” markets and in gift shops across Sandals and Beaches Resorts, reinvesting proceeds back into local communities.
“We believe in the power of tourism to transform lives and understand that Caribbean resilience grows from a deep respect for the environment, its people and its culture. As a Caribbean family and a Caribbean company, no one loves and cares for this region more than we do and it is our responsibility to act,” said Stewart. “This report is a testament to that legacy – and a promise to keep going.”
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