Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart beams with pride as he accepts from Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) President Nicola Madden-Grieg the Icon of Hospitality award made posthumously to his father, Sandals founder Gordon “Butch” Stewart (seen in photograph), at the AC Hotel Kingston on Tuesday.

Late hoteliers Sir Royston Hopkin and George Myers were similarly awarded at the recent CHTA Marketplace in Barbados.

In a Twitter post acknowledging the award, Adam Stewart said, “Three determined young men dreamed of making their mark in Caribbean tourism and hospitality and along the way they forged a new path, mentoring and moulding other young Caribbean dreamers to aim for excellence. They have now been named Icons of Hospitality by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and I could not be prouder.

“To Sir Royston Hopkin, my dad’s dear friend; to Uncle George Myers, who led the way and made us laugh; and to father, my hero, and the biggest dreamer of them all. Your example of how to build lives of service and contribution continues to inspire us all. We, the next generation of Caribbean hoteliers, stand on your shoulders, and you can be certain that the high expectations you have set for us all will be exceeded for and because of you.