In The News

CEO of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart,  understands what entrepreneurship and hospitality are all about in one swooping endeavor known as Sandals Resorts International. Recently honored  with the “50 Under 50” award by Jamaica’s local newspaper, The Gleaner, and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, Adam Stewart shines as a standout entrepreneur, recognized for his leadership in the tourism sector, one of the country's main foreign exchange earners.

Parallel to the influence that Sandals Resorts has made on vacationers around the world, there is another element of impact that exists on the beautiful island of Jamaica within its civic and business landscape.  Earning him this award, Stewart has demonstrated a significant contribution to Jamaica, not only in the business sector, but in the local communities and its people. From generating thousands of  jobs for locals, who are the pulse of any Sandals Resorts vacation, to launching the Sandals Foundation, which gives back to the welcoming people of Jamaica, the young CEO has shown significant promise as evident in this year’s annual “50 Under50” report.  See below to read the CEO’s full profile in this year’s “50 Under 50” awards report.  

From The Gleaner

Six years ago, Adam Stewart took over the reins of Sandals Resorts International (SRI). At 25, he was among the youngest CEOs this side of the world. Since then, his frenetic pace and passion for change have put him at the centre of a whirlwind of activity that has left a revolutionised, expanded, and upgraded hotel chain in its wake. Stewart's wind of change and expansion have been felt in The Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas, St. Lucia, Antigua…and most recently, Grenada.

Stewart has made a habit of venturing into new areas and executing projects in his, "out of the box" style. He is enthused about the evolution taking place across Sandals, Beaches, and ATL [Appliance Traders Limited] that is epitomised by the forging of extraordinary partnerships with world-leading companies and which spans a multitude of diverse names such as Sesame Street, Xbox Kinect, Panasonic, Audi, Land Rover, and others.

Additionally, Stewart has established Island Routes Adventure Tours, which is a way of offering unique island experiences throughout the region. Island Routes is now a multiple World Travel Award-winning company of 200 people offering hundreds of adventures in eight islands in just two years. This is the sharing.

The caring comes from the establishment of the Sandals Foundation, a non-profit organisation Stewart founded in 2009. It aims to unite the region under one common goal of elevating its people and protecting its delicate ecosystem. The foundation harnesses the resources, talents, partnerships, and awareness behind the SRI brand to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the Caribbean. It has raised more than US$2.5 million through guests, travel partners and team members.

Stewart's restless passion is also evident in the expansion of ATL Automotive, reviving brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, Jaguar, and Range Rover in addition to Honda, which was already with the ATL group, and raising the bar of motoring in Jamaica with the introduction of a state-of-the-art sales and service centre in Montego Bay. The first of its kind, an even bigger facility is scheduled to open in Kingston in January 2013. Stewart is also ensuring that the world shares his excitement through the launch of the ATL Racing Team.

Adam Stewart is a maverick on a mission, an energetic change agent, and an innovator who is not constrained by convention.