UWI Bestows Honorary Doctor of Law Degree on Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart for ‘Innovation and Creativity’ in Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy

November 17, 2022 – In a ceremony befitting the region’s largest university honouring the region’s largest private employer, the University of the West Indies bestowed an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree on Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart November 5, calling him a ‘modern Renaissance man’ and lauding his ‘innovation and creativity’ in creating growth for the region.

The event recognizing Dr. Stewart (Hon.) took place during UWI’s graduation ceremony at UWI’s Mona Campus, Montego Bay, Jamaica in front of a crowd of hundreds of students, faculty, staff, family and friends.

While Stewart is best known in The Bahamas for his leadership at Sandals Royal Bahamian and two resorts in Exuma, he was honoured for a wide range of contributions from healthcare and natural resources management to generosity during COVID-19 when he handed over the Sandals Carlyle Resort for 18 months free of charge for use by the Jamaican government and donated JA$30 million on top of it to deal with the crisis. Dr. Stewart also encouraged his Sandals family – some 16,000 strong around the Caribbean region – to be ready to open back up better than ever the minute the signal was given in each country.

“Adam is the embodiment of the modern renaissance man leading the charge in the Caribbean in the innovation and creativity critical to achieving high levels of growth,’ said Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, UWI. “His is the type of acumen and agility that The UWI prides itself on honing to meet the needs of our burgeoning region. Congratulations Dr. The Hon. Adam Stewart. Well deserved!”.

Dr. Stewart took the opportunity to focus not on his achievements, but to encourage UWI graduates to take pride in their culture and find their inner ‘superpower’.

“Work with fascinating companies,” he advised, sharing the awe he felt working with his father, Sandals founder Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, who passed away in January 2021. “When you wake up in the morning and you’re taking a shower, and preparing for your day, be truthful with yourself. Find the thing inside you that makes you tick. Find the thing inside you that makes you want to get up every day.” When you do that, he told them, you will find the superpower that resides within.

For Dr. Stewart, it has never been about finding what makes him tick, but always finding the time to work on and achieve all those things that make him tick, including his philanthropy. Stewart is founder and President of the Sandals Foundation, the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization aimed at making a difference in the Caribbean communities where Sandals Resorts operates. One hundred per cent of the monies contributed by the public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the Caribbean. He chairs both a Jamaican non-profit that supports hospital facilities and that country’s Tourism Linkages Council, which seeks to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of local suppliers, making the strength of tourism work for all.

In The Bahamas, the Sandals Foundation  has provided hurricane relief, supported conch conservation, and funded PACE, the critical program that allows young mothers to continue their education. It has paid for 3,000 students to tour by boat and learn about the importance of mangroves. In Long Island, the Sandals Foundation has uplifted education and healthcare needs, including funding the Scrub Hill Cancer Society.

The doctor of law degree was the latest in a series of honours for Dr. Stewart, For his outstanding contribution to tourism and the hotel industry, he received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2016 and later that year, was named the Caribbean American Mover and Shaker – Humanitarian of the Year by the Caribbean Media Network. In 2017, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) honoured Stewart with the Jerry Award for outstanding contributions to Caribbean development.

Stewart sits on the Board of Directors of Wysinco Group Limited and is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). A graduate, Board Director and active alumnus of The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Stewart recently orchestrated a partnership between FIU and The UWI, where he serves as Ambassador of the Western Jamaica Campus.  Pledging support from SRI, and signing an MOU, The UWI and FIU will work together to establish The Gordon “Butch” Stewart International School of Hospitality and Tourism in honor of Stewart’s father and SRI founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart.

Photo Caption:  UWI bestows Honorary Doctor of Law Degree on Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart. Photo (l-r): Pro-Vice Chancellor of The University of the West Indies and Principal of Mona Campus Professor Dale Webber, Adam Stewart, The UWI Chancellor Robert Bermudez