Sandals Resorts International is the preeminent all-inclusive luxury hotel brand in the Caribbean, if not the globe, as they are continually being recognized by consumers and the hotel industry for excellence worldwide. In fact, for the last 20 years running, Sandals Resorts has been heralded as the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company at the prestigious World Travel Awards.
Sandals Resorts: The flagship all-inclusive luxury resort for couples, Sandals Montego Bay. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
Sandals Resorts International was founded by Jamaican Gordon “Butch” Stewart in 1981 after purchasing and spending US$ 4 million to remodel Bay Roc, a rundown hotel on a beautiful beach in Montego Bay. Stewart, who was Chairman until his passing in 2021, got his nickname from his father, “Daddy Stew,” who thought his young son was a dead ringer for a cartoon bulldog called Butch. He had no prior hotel experience (just a successful track record running an air conditioning company Appliance Traders Limited, which he still owns today) but launched his first all-inclusive luxury hotel with the motto: “find out what people want, give it to them and in doing so – exceed their expectations.”
Sandals Resorts: Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Founder & Chairman. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
Thus, whereas other all-inclusive resorts at the time only offered limited buffet meals and rooms at a set rate, Stewart created packages that went much further. From the start, Sandals Montego Bay had all-inclusive packages that included gourmet dining at on-property specialist restaurants with white-glove service, premium drinks, gratuities, airport transfer, taxes, and all land and water activities. These all-inclusive luxury packages at Sandals Resorts were paired with exceptional customer service by a team of well-trained employees.
It wasn’t all roses in the early years. In fact, Sandals Resorts International lost a lot of money during the first two years, but with a strong belief in the brand as well as being pioneers beyond the all-inclusive offering, they were able to turn a corner. For example, they were the first Caribbean hotel company to offer satellite television services, whirlpools, and swim-up pool bars, as well as the first to guarantee that every room had a king-size bed and a hair dryer. More recently, new services have been added, including a signature spa concept – Red Lane® Spa, signature luxury suites designed for privacy and ultimate pampering, and signature partnerships with iconic organizations such as Microsoft Xbox® Play Lounge, Sesame Workshop, PADI, Beringer Vineyards and the London-based Guild of Professional English Butlers.
Sandals Resorts: Sandals Grande St. Lucian Snorkeling Beach Couple. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
These new and expanding hotel products and services, along with exceptional customer service from their now 12,000+ staff focused on surpassing the expectation of their guests (nearly 1 million per year) have helped Sandals Resorts International to become the most successful brand in the all-inclusive category. Also, for Stewart to be known as the “King of All-Inclusive Resorts,” the “Cupid of the Caribbean,” and the “Master of Marketing.” In fact, year-round occupancy for Sandals Resorts International hotel properties is at 85%, and approximately 40% of their guests return for additional vacations.
Sandals Resorts: Sandals Royal Bahamian Cable Beach Oceanview. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
Exact sales/revenue figures are not publicly available for Sandals Resorts International as they are privately held, but estimates are that they have grown into a multibillion-dollar company. Beyond the hotel and resorts, there are also automobile distributors, a newspaper, a radio station, and a host of further distribution companies incorporating everything from air-conditioning units to generators and domestic appliances to business solutions. Sandals Resorts International is the largest private employer in the Caribbean.
Sandals Resorts: Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, The Southern Table Restaurant. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
What countries are Sandals Resorts in?
Today, under the Sandals Resorts International umbrella in eight Caribbean destinations, there are 24 properties under five brands, including 17 Sandals Resorts (for couples), 3 Beaches Resorts (for families), 2 Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts (for the budget conscious), 1 Fowl Cay Resort (private island escape) and 3 Your Jamaican Villas. Sandals Resorts International properties can be found in Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, Curacao, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, and Turks & Caicos Islands. Below is a timeline detailing the expansion of Sandals Resorts International through the years.
1981 – Gordon “Butch” Stewart open Sandals Montego Bay, the flagship resort in Jamaica.
1985 – Sandals opens Carlyle in Montego Bay, now called Sandals Inn.
1986 – Sandals Royal Caribbean opens, becoming the only resort in Jamaica with its own private island.
1988 – Sandals Negril opens its door on Jamaica’s famous Seven-Mile Beach.
1989 – Sandals Ocho Rios also in Jamaica, now Sandals Ochi makes its debut in ‘Butch’ Stewart’s hometown.
Sandals Resorts: Sandals Grande Riviera golf course. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
1991 – The luxury all-inclusive hotel chain welcomes Sandals Grande Antigua – the first destination outside of Jamaica to have a Sandal’s presence.
1993 – Sandals Regency La Toc debuts, bringing glamour and luxury to Saint Lucia.
1994 – Sandals introduces Sandals Halcyon, providing guests with an intimate hideaway in Castries, Saint Lucia.
1996 – Sandals Royal Bahamian opens in Nassau, Bahamas.
1997 – Sandals introduces its first family resort in Jamaica, as Beaches Negril opens its doors.
Beaches Resorts: Beaches Negril Beach Firepit Entertainment. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
1997 – Beaches Turks & Caicos opens in Providenciales, becoming the second family resort.
2001 – Sandals Royal Plantation opens in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The property boasts all-butler, all-oceanfront suites.
2002 – Both Sandals Grande St. Lucian in Saint Lucia and Beaches Ocho Rios in Jamaica open.
2005 – Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa – the first resort development on the unchartered south coast region of Jamaica opens.
2007 – Fowl Cay Resort, a private island escape in the Exumas, Bahamas, is added to the portfolio.
Sandals Resorts: Fowl Cay Aerial view. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
2008 – Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts open in Jamaica and Antigua. This new, value-oriented brand offers a quality, all-inclusive experience for the budget conscious.
2009 – The Sandals Foundation is launched to support initiatives that uplift and improve the lives of people in the Caribbean.
2010 – Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas opens.
2013 – Sandals Barbados is acquired. This resort was extensively renovated and opened to the public in January 2015.
2014 – Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa opens.
2016 – Grand Pineapple Beach Resort in Antigua is sold, and plans are underway for a Beaches Antigua.
2016 – Sandals Royal Caribbean opened the Caribbean’s first over-the-water villas, including private infinity pools.
2017 – Sandals Royal Barbados opens with only concierge and butler-level suites.
Sandals Resorts: Sandals Barbados Pool Bar. Photo: ©Sandals Resorts International.
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