Legendary Caribbean hospitality giant Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart died yesterday in Miami after a short illness. He was 79 years-of-age. Stewart was the founder of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, and their parent company Sandals Resorts International. He also led the ATL Group and the Jamaica Observer.
One of the most successful Jamaican businessmen ever, Stewart founded Appliance Traders Limited, in 1968. The company, which initially specialised in the importation and sale of air-conditioning units, water coolers and stoves, has since greatly expanded to include other appliances, electronics and homecare items.
In 1981, Stewart began his venture into hospitality with the purchase of a few hotel properties in Montego Bay. Within a decade, he established these and other investments he made in Jamaican properties into an all-inclusive resort chain – Sandals Resorts. He also added a family concept resort brand Beaches. In 1991 Stewart expanded his hospitality empire outside of Jamaica, building Sandals Antigua.
Sandals, now an iconic brand, has since added more resorts in Jamaica and also in Saint Lucia, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos.
Stewart also founded the Jamaica Observer newspaper, and in 1994 was involved in the acquisition of a stake in Air Jamaica. The airline was sold back to the Jamaican Government in 2004.
The well regarded Stewart, received a number of Jamaica’s highest honours, including the Order of Jamaica (OJ) and Commander of the Order of Distinction (OD).
Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart leaves behind seven children and his wife, Cheryl.
His son Adam Stewart is Deputy Chairman and CEO of Sandals Resorts and the ATL Group said his father had recently been given a health diagnosis which chose to keep private. The family has honoured that wish.
Adam Stewart issued the following statement to group executives:
It is with great sadness that I share with you today the passing of our founder and Chairman, and my father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.
This news seems almost unbelievable, since our chairman was as involved and forward thinking as ever.
He chose to keep a very recent health diagnosis private and we respected that wish.
The Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart OJ, a distinction he was so proud of, was a gifted entrepreneur.
He was a marketing genius and talented showman, but those who knew him best recognised that he was a dreamer who could dream bigger and better than anyone.
It was often said “the best thing for people around him to do is be dream catchers.”
That’s why he always credited his success to the incredible team around him, why he listened intently when it came to creating innovative things that would excite and delight our guests, and why it is so important that I remind you today of all days, that we will all continue to be his dream catchers.
Together, we have all been part of something bigger than ourselves, led by a man who believed in us and who gave us opportunities to learn, grow and the tools to make dreams real.
For him and because of him ̧ we will continue to dream big and deliver on his certainty that true luxury is always best enjoyed by the sea.
My Dad lived a big life – husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather entrepreneur, statesman, dreamer.
A singular personality and an unstoppable force who revelled in defying the odds, exceeding expectations and whose passion for his family was matched only by the people and possibility of the Caribbean, for whom he was a fierce champion.
There will never be another quite like him and we will miss him forever.
While I need to be with family right now, I look forward to speaking with you soon and sharing thoughts about the incredible future of this company built by this most incredible man.
Until then, and to use the words of his iconic sign off, this one last time, All that’s good.
– Adam Stewart