In a show of unflinching loyalty to his homeland, Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, took the stage at CruiseWorld in Fort Lauderdale with a message that cut through the storm’s aftermath: Jamaica is not broken — it’s rebuilding stronger.
Speaking directly to hundreds of North American travel advisors, Stewart made an urgent appeal to keep Jamaica on the radar for vacationers, arguing that continued tourism activity is not just leisure — it’s economic lifeblood. “Tourism is the fastest transfer of wealth to these developing islands,” he said, calling on the industry to double down on Caribbean destinations despite recent setbacks.
Behind his words is a decisive recovery strategy. Three flagship resorts — Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals South Coast — are set to reopen on May 30, 2026, boasting full-scale upgrades. Meanwhile, five others that weathered the storm with minimal damage will resume operations December 6, following a brief holding period to allow affected employees time to recover.
Beyond restoration plans, Sandals has positioned itself at the core of national relief efforts. The group has pledged US$3 million towards disaster response, and its corporate hangar has been repurposed as a logistics hub for distributing aid. Stewart personally oversaw the evacuation and return of guests, even chartering an aircraft to fly them home — then filling that same aircraft with 150,000 pounds of relief supplies on its return to the island.
The Sandals Foundation has also ramped up its medical response, delivering J$6 million worth of pediatric equipment to Bustamante Hospital for Children. The contribution includes vital tools such as neonatal ventilators, blood gas analysers, infusion pumps, and more, enabling Kingston’s medical teams to handle transfers of vulnerable children from storm-ravaged parishes.
Taking the stage beside Stewart, Gary Sadler, EVP of Sales & Industry Relations at Unique Vacations, reinforced the call to action: “The best way to help us to recover in the Caribbean… is to make sure that you sell more hotel rooms.”
CruiseWorld — known for linking travel advisors with global suppliers — served as the ideal platform for Stewart’s rallying cry. More than just a pitch, it was a personal declaration from a man carrying a blue Jamaican passport and an unwavering resolve to restore the very soil that raised him.
The message was clear: Jamaica isn’t just open for business — it’s preparing for a grand return.
