Sandals Resort a gold mine for Tobago, says Stewart

He was speaking on Saturday at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce Champions of Business Award Ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had approached Sandals founder and chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart about establishing a Sandals Resort in Tobago.

The elder Stewart reported that he is eyeing No Man’s Land for a 750 room resort.

On Saturday night Stewart reported that his father, was unable to attend as he was recovering from minor surgery.

In his feature address he said that this country has been relying on the certainty of the oil.

“Like I am sure many of you, I have been shocked to read about the impact plummeting oil prices have had on the sector’s contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP, a 50 percent reduction — and if that were not startling enough, with production down and only the most highly skilled workers necessary, it seems as there will be people, good people — looking for work,” he added.

“Now, oil is not where my business expertise lies, but I do believe Prime Minister Rowley may be onto something because everything I do know something about — hospitality, is telling me that Trinidad and Tobago is a gold mine just waiting to be discovered.

As you consider new paths to economic growth, I believe now is the time for Trinidad and Tobago to make way for tourism, ‘Sandals style’.” He explained that “Sandals style” means as a Caribbean-based company, understanding this region, and knowing the critical role of tourism as an economic engine across all sectors “and the responsibility we accept for the success of any endeavor we pursue”.

Stewart also stressed that without destination demand Trinidad will not be able to encourage airlift but where Sandals “plants it flag - the airlines follow”. He pointed that these planes will deliver guests to other hotels as well.

“And we never work in a silo. Sandals Resorts become part and parcel of the place where we operate. Our success trickles down and up and sideways and all ways... Whenever and as much as we can, we buy local.

In Jamaica, for example, a country like your own with a strong agricultural sector – Sandals Resorts purchased US $1.5 million in melons, lettuce, pineapples and potatoes last year alone... We provide local farmers with consistent demand, creating a robust market for their produce that simply would not exist without full hotel rooms,” he explained.

He reported that their guests consume in one year at a single resort of 750 rooms, “about the size we’re proposing here in Trinidad and Tobago”, nearly: 350,000 bottles of water; 215,000 bottles of beer; 925,000 eggs.

Altogether, the economic foot print of a resort the size we propose for Tobago, when you take into account payroll, taxes, local services and more, would be in the region of US$80 million annually. In the construction phase alone we anticipate to employ between 2500 to 3000 persons. Beyond that there will be some 1800 sustainable jobs for persons employed by the resort itself,” he reported.

He continued: “Trinidad and Tobago is on the brink of a great opportunity, a break- through in its quest to become a vibrant and relevant member of the Caribbean tourism community. I applaud Prime Minister Rowley’s efforts to realise Trinidad and Tobago’s potential and appreciate his thoughtful approach in considering the sizeable investment this will require. After all, so much is on the line.”