Hotelier and businessman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart was lauded by the RJRGleaner Communications Group Hospitality Jamaica Awards as its first pioneer awardee at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Saturday night. Presenting an Everard Powell-painted token to the founder and chair of Sandals Resorts International and the Jamaica Observer was his media rival Oliver Clarke, deputy chair of the RJRGleaner Communications Group — a moment regarded as historic by those present.

The third staging of the awards chaired by Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator Janet Silvera, saw Royalton White Sands as the big winners of the night, copping wins in the categories for Jamaica’s best family resort and the best all-inclusive over 300 rooms. Two Sandals Resorts International properties, Sandals Royal Plantation and Sandals Royal Caribbean & Private Island, took home the awards for Jamaica’s best boutique hotel and best all-inclusive under 300 rooms. Chukka Caribbean Adventures co-principals, Director of Group Revenue & New Development Marc Melville and CEO John Byles won the hearts of the sector as the hospitality personalities of year, the first time the awards committee was recognising more than one individual in the category.

Monday Social treks to the Second City where best practices in tourism and a mandate to motivate competitiveness within the industry received deserving rounds of applause.

Photos: Joseph Wellington & Aceion Cunningham