MONTEGO BAY, St James – Patt Warren is by no means a stranger to Jamaica.

She has come to cavort in the warm blue waters and frolic on the sun-kissed beaches of this northern Caribbean island on 106 occasions. For 100 of those times, Patt has stayed at the Flagship Sandals Montego Bay resort – a feat that has never before been achieved at any of the more than 20 Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart-owned resorts spread across the Caribbean.

Over the years, the petite, energetic, 75-year-old blonde who wears an infectious smile, has charmed her way into the hearts of the Sandals Montego Bay staff.

Dubbed at the resort as a ‘resident visitor’, Patt has witnessed the development of many staff members, as well as improved standards at the facility.

“I have seen the improvements and the growth of the staff over the years. In fact, the person (Winston Hurge) who served me my first meal on my very first visit here (Sandals Montego) is still working at the hotel,” she said.

Hurge is currently the dining room captain at Sandals Montego Bay.

Patt’s love affair with Jamaica dates back to the 1970s when she and her late husband, Tom, first visited the island.

“During our first visit, we stayed at a villa in Ironshore and we found the workers so friendly and warm so we said we have to visit again,” she explained.

The couple’s relationship with the island blossomed as they travelled the length and breath of the country, visiting attractions and meeting people.

In 1981 when Sandals Montego Bay opened its door, the coupled chose to vacation at the property. So impressive was the hospitality and warmth at the resort that the couple never stayed at another property in the island.

Shortly after her husband’s passing in 2001, Patt was given approval by Butch Stewart to stay at the ‘couples only’ resort, even though she was now ‘single’.

“Since my husband’s death, I have been going to Sandals alone but when I get there I am not alone. You see I am a part of the Sandals family so I don’t get lonely,” she explained in an interview with the Observer after being feted recently by Sandals to mark the occasion of her 100th visit.

A resident of Treasure Island, Florida, Patt added that during her many visits to the resort she had developed friendship with scores of guests at the property. Many of them, she added, are now regular visitors to her Florida home.

“My house is called ‘Sandals in Treasure Island’ because a lot of people that I meet here (Sandals) would come to my home to spend time with me,” she said, adding that she also got visitors from Jamaica.

General manager at Sandals Montego Bay, Horace Peterkin said Patt, whose visits to the island have spanned more than 35 years, had established strong ties in Jamaica.

“Patt has over the years made Jamaica and, in particular, Sandals Montego Bay her home and has established a Jamaican family here,” said Peterkin. “She is the most ardent supporter of Sandals Montego Bay and we are very, very pleased.”

He argued that Patt’s support and dedication to the property has served as a motivation for guests to go after her record, and also to encourage team members to continue to serve with pride and passion.

The resort’s public relations manager, Marlon Tinglin agrees.

“Patt is a super guest. someone who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of not only the property but the team members. She is a mother, sister, counsellor and guide who also serves as a resource person,”

said Tinglin.

Over the years, Patt has participated in Labour Day activities at Blossom Garden Children’s Home and has attended numerous family functions for the resort’s staff.

“I have watched some members of staff grow up, get married and have babies and I have found that Jamaicans generally have a good sense of humour,” Patt said, adding, “Jamaicans are wonderful people. This makes it therefore easy for me to come back here.”

As the proud guest of honour at an appreciation dinner held in the Skydome on the Sandals Montego Bay resort property, she was presented with a plaque on behalf of the city of Montego Bay by its mayor, Noel Donaldson who described her as a “true ambassador” for Jamaica.

The widow was also presented with a framed citation to mark her 100th vacation at Sandals Montego Bay by chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart.

Her gifts also include an autobiography of the chairman of Sandals Resorts International Gordon “Butch” Stewart.