JAMAICA’S Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts, the Caribbean’s leading hotel chain, has joined The Wall Street Journal CEO Council, an invitation-only group of global business leaders recognised for driving innovation and shaping the future of business and policy.

The CEO Council unites top executives from Fortune 500 companies and major global firms, as well as other influential leaders, to exchange insights and help shape the global business agenda. As one of the latest to be named among that rarefied group, Stewart is at number 297 on the list of 359 chief executives.

Some of the more easily recognisable entities represented by the business leaders are Bank of America; News Corp; Dow Jones; Hewlett Packard; Microsoft; New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); Pinterest; Rockefeller Group; Sesame Workshop; Qatar Airways; Target; TikTok; Toyota; Verizon; Wells Fargo; AARP; AT&T; Blue Cross Blue Shield; DIRECTTV; Eastman Kodak; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Deloitte; Ericsson; IBM, Rubik and Honeywell.

As a member, Stewart will bring to bear his game-changing experience from years of leadership in the tourism and hospitality sectors, particularly his focus on innovation, development and regional impact in the Caribbean.

“I am thrilled to join this powerful community of global leaders driving meaningful conversations and bold decisions,” said Stewart. “Representing Sandals Resorts and the Caribbean at this level is an honour. I look forward to sharing our unique perspective on innovation and the future of hospitality while connecting with some of the brightest, most influential minds in the business.”

Stewart, who is also executive chairman of the Jamaica Observer, builds on a legacy of more than four decades established by his father, the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who founded Sandals Resorts in 1981. Under Adam Stewart’s leadership Sandals has not only expanded its footprint across the Caribbean but has redefined luxury hospitality through bold, industry-leading transformation and the launch of Sandals 2.0, which defines the brand’s next evolution.

Appointed an ambassador and special investment envoy for Jamaica in 2023, Stewart, whose vision extends beyond resorts, founded Sandals Foundation to drive meaningful change in education, community development, and environmental sustainability across the region.

He also launched Island Routes, now the Caribbean’s premier tour company, offering more than 500 immersive experiences that celebrate the region’s rich culture and natural beauty.