Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, has received the distinguished Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year award for 2025 from Caribbean National Weekly (CNW), recognizing his exceptional leadership during a period of both remarkable achievements and significant regional challenges.
The regional publication highlighted Stewart’s multifaceted contributions across hospitality leadership, strategic tourism investments, and crisis management excellence. Beyond steering his luxury resort empire through turbulent times, Stewart was credited with playing a pivotal role in shaping Jamaica’s economic recovery and establishing foundations for future regional growth.
2025 marked a year of industry acclaim for Stewart, featuring prestigious invitations to join the Wall Street Journal CEO Council and announcements of multimillion-dollar developments across Sandals’ all-inclusive luxury resort portfolio. However, his most defining leadership moment emerged during Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure in late October.
Stewart implemented unprecedented crisis response measures, including transparent communication protocols with global travel partners and a landmark commitment to maintain full payroll and Christmas bonuses for all Sandals and Beaches employees—even at properties requiring temporary closure for restoration. The company allocated over US$3 million in direct staff recovery assistance to support families affected by the catastrophic storm.
Under Stewart’s guidance, the Sandals Foundation achieved record levels of community engagement, delivering targeted disaster recovery support across healthcare, livelihood restoration, and environmental conservation initiatives throughout the Caribbean region.
In accepting the honor, Stewart expressed profound humility, emphasizing that the recognition reflects collective effort rather than individual achievement. “This award demonstrates that business can be a powerful force for good when people show up daily for their communities,” stated Stewart. “It belongs to the extraordinary teams advancing our shared vision, particularly the Sandals Foundation whose work creates lasting change in education, healthcare, disaster relief, and environmental stewardship.”