Sandals Resorts International (SRI) walked away with four of the most coveted prizes at the just-concluded 2004 Caribbean World Travel Awards and World Travel Market Awards in London.

The Gordon “Butch” Stewart-led chain of hotels was voted Best Caribbean Hotel Chain, Best All-Inclusive Luxury Resorts and Best Hotel Group. The chain, which, in addition to Jamaica, has operations in five other Caribbean islands, also copped the prestigious Environmental Gold Award.

“These endorsements reflect the support of the trade and the dedication of our entire team, who has worked tirelessly to provide our guests with the very best that a resort can offer,” said Stewart, the chairman of SRI. “We are honoured by these accolades as they confirm that we are fulfilling our promise to always exceed the expectations of our guests.”

The Best Hotel Group Award is among the most prominent of all the travel trade honours, in which travel agents from across the UK and Ireland vote for the company they believe has provided the best service during the year. Pricing, customer service, training programmes and commission rates are among the factors considered when votes are being cast.

The Best Caribbean Hotel Chain Award, sponsored by Virgin Holidays, goes to those companies and hotels that Virgin Holiday’s customers rate most highly in customer service surveys conducted among their clients. Virgin’s clients also voted Sandals Regency St Lucia, the Best All Inclusive Hotel.

The Best All-Inclusive Luxury Resort Award honours excellence among hotels throughout the Caribbean and is based on votes by readers of Caribbean World, a quarterly magazine focusing on all things Caribbean.

Thompson Holiday’s Environmental Gold Award is given to companies and hotels that practice a high level of sustainable development. The Sandals Group has shown ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and community development and administers one of the most comprehensive community outreach programmes in the Caribbean.

The Group currently sponsors over 100 projects in its host communities spanning health, education, skills development, sports, senior citizens welfare and conflict resolution.

Sandals has also been a leader in promoting environmental responsibility. The chain adopted the internationally respected Green Globe Environmental Management system in 1998. Sandals Negril was the first all-inclusive hotel in the world to become Green Globe-certified.

Seventeen Sandals and Beaches resorts are now Green Globe- certified, which means the Group is on course to become the first all-inclusive chain in the world to be fully Green Globe-certified.