Sandals among world’s top 10 most searched hotel companies, Yahoo reports
Sandals Resorts is among the world’s top 10 most searched hotel companies for 2014 in Yahoo’s year-in-review rankings released last week.
The rankings, compiled by Yahoo Travel, give an indication of what Yahoo users search for most when travelling and cover hotels, airlines and destinations.
Sandals Resorts, a Jamaican company owned and operated by Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart — who is also chairman of this newspaper — sits in the top 10 with brands such as Marriott, which topped the list; Hilton, Best Western, Hyatt, and Wyndham.
Reacting to the news, Sandals Resorts Deputy Chairman and CEO Adam Stewart said the ranking is one of the most significant of the many accolades and awards Sandals has won over the years.
“Being named as one of the ‘Top Ten Most Searched Hotel Companies’ in the world alongside prestigious brands such as Hilton and Marriott is phenomenal,” Stewart said.
“It didn’t result in shiny awards or extravagant events, but when one considers that some of the hotels within the list boast over 4,000 hotels in 80 different countries, you will appreciate the significance of what we’ve achieved.
“We are a Jamaican, family-run company with 20 resorts in the Caribbean, and here we are beside companies that have as many hotels as we have rooms. What makes us and our brand so different? Our team and their ability to create world-class experiences in the Caribbean,” he said.
Also included in the top ten most searched hotel companies are Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Starwood and Hampton Inn.
Southwest, Yahoo said, was the most searched airline, with the legacy carriers right behind. The top 10 in that category are:
1. Southwest Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. US Airways
6. Spirit Airlines
7. Alaska Airlines
8. Allegiant Air
9. Frontier Airlines
10. Hawaiian Airlines
In the destination category, Las Vegas topped the list, as it did last year. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ranked second, and New Orleans was third.
Completing the list are Atlantic City, New Jersey, in fourth; Key West, Florida, fifth; Ocean City, Maryland, sixth; Santa Barbara, California, seventh; San Diego, California, eighth; Virginia Beach, Virginia, ninth; and San Francisco, California, 10th.