Pime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has hailed Sandals Resorts for the affect it has already had on St Vincent and the Grenadines, declaring that the posh all-inclusive chain supplied hope for the nation when it confronted financial challenges in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and after the 2021 eruption of La Soufrière volcano.
“Throughout COVID, unemployment went up, there was a decline in financial exercise within the area. On the time we additionally had volcanic eruptions. Sandals got here to us with a proposal to recruit Vincentians and ship them to their resorts throughout the Caribbean to be skilled. We needed to evacuate 20,000 individuals, with some in shelters for 4 to 6 months. Alongside got here a pal in Sandals who mentioned they might ease a number of the stress, offering alternatives for 500 individuals, and these little issues discuss to me about partnership,” Gonsalves instructed company on the latest official opening of Sandals St Vincent.
“This may need been small for Sandals, however it was an enormous factor for us within the situation wherein we discovered ourselves, and I wish to thank Sandals and Adam,” he mentioned, referring to Sandals Resorts Govt Chairman Adam Stewart, son of the award-winning resort chain’s late founder Gordon “Butch” Stewart.
“It’s an understatement actually to name Sandals a model. It has turn into an existential a part of our Caribbean civilisation. This civilisation is tailored for tourism and Butch Stewart has helped to form this facet of the fabric to assist maintain us. I feel that when the historical past of the twentieth into the twenty first century is written, there can be a towering place for this legend,” Gonsalves mentioned.
Mentioning that he loved an amazing relationship with Butch Stewart, Prime Minister Gonsalves outlined his nation’s plan to have fun Stewart’s reminiscence and contributions to tourism and financial improvement within the Caribbean.
“The Authorities of St Vincent and the Grenadines had indicated to Sandals that we are going to construct the highway coming to the doorway of the resort. Having constructed it, we’ll name it the Gordon “Butch” Stewart Boulevard,” Gonsalves introduced to sustained applause.
Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines is the chain’s 18th resort within the Caribbean. It provides 301 rooms and suites throughout 50 lush-laden acres.
In line with Stewart, the most recent resort within the chain “is a multi-generational act within the making that started with my extraordinary father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, and Prime Minister Gonsalves a few years in the past”.
Each males, he mentioned, had flirted closely with the concept of flying the St Vincent and the Grenadines flag, not solely in that nation however in all the opposite islands throughout the Caribbean that Sandals has its operations.
“Little did we all know that 43 years later the Sandals model would develop from one 99-room resort in Montego Bay to a high 500 model recognized on the world stage as a brilliant model. The one Caribbean-born industrial tremendous model recognized throughout the USA, Europe, and Canada, with over 84 per cent model penetration and recognition,” he mentioned.
Stewart spoke on what the opening of the brand new resort meant for Sandals, the island, and the Caribbean at massive.
“In the beginning, we market the vacation spot — each St Vincent and the Grenadines. The panorama that makes up this unimaginable archipelago will profit. Straight and not directly, for linkages, tour operators, taxi operators, restaurateurs, musicians, farmers, fishers, entrepreneurs, ironmongery store operators, your entire ecosystem and connectivity we plan to be sure that your entire world is aware of,” he mentioned.
With Sandals’ growth to the island, airlift has elevated exponentially, with extra availability on the horizon. In line with Stewart, quite a few airways have adjusted their schedules in anticipation of the demand.
“American Airways used to fly twice per week to and from the Argyle Airport. Since April the airline has elevated [flights] to 4 instances per week and is anticipated to have each day flights by the top of 2024,” he mentioned.
“Air Canada and Virgin have elevated their airlift, with JetBlue and United Airways now flying to the island for the primary time. Nationals and guests may have the chance to fly extra conveniently and we’ll proceed to develop,” Stewart added.
Subsequent month the resort is anticipated to host 300 high journey advisors from world wide, the most important contingent of worldwide journey professionals to ever go to St Vincent and the Grenadines.
