BRIDGETOWN–The leader of one of the world's leading resort companies will outline a vision for Caribbean tourism as he sets the tone for the region's most important tourism gatherings, the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC).
Chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, will deliver the keynote address at the September 14-16 event in Barbados, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Barbados' minister of tourism and international transport Richard Sealy announced.
"We are honoured and excited to announce Mr Adam Stewart, the chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, as the keynoter for SOTIC. Sandals is an influential Caribbean brand. Its impact on the economies of the countries in which it operates, and the other benefits it brings, such as immense global exposure which we otherwise could not afford, cannot be missed," Sealy said at a news conference at CTO headquarters.
Described as "a maverick on a mission, an energetic change agent, and an innovator who is not constrained by convention," Stewart is expected to share his views on the opportunities that lie ahead for Caribbean tourism and what must be done to cash in on these opportunities.
His presentation will focus on the conference theme, Honouring Our Legacy, Defining Our Future, and is expected to draw on the Sandal CEO's experiences in leading the growth and expansion of the global brand since he took over as its CEO at the age of 25.
"As chief executive officer of a brand born in the Caribbean, it is my sincere pleasure to join my colleagues and my friends this September in Barbados to discuss not only the state of our industry but the myriad opportunities that lie ahead.
"We are on the precipice of interesting days and I am excited to consider how, together, we will continue to make a visit to the Caribbean absolutely compelling," Stewart, who has overseen the expansion of the resorts and introduction of industry-changing innovation and developments, said ahead of the news conference.
The keynote address will launch the first full day of the conference on September 15 at the Hilton Barbados Resort.
Another leading presenter announced at today's news conference is Craig Landry, the president of Air Canada Leisure Group, who will be the featured speaker on September 16.
Landry oversees the Air Canada Vacations tour operator business and the leisure airline Air Canada Rouge, both of which are important partners and stakeholders in Caribbean tourism.
Canada is itself a longstanding and critically important tourism partner for the region.
"The combination of a keynoter who is the chief executive officer of the Caribbean's foremost hotel brand–Adam Stewart of Sandals–and a featured speaker who is from Air Canada, signals the importance we attach to our vision for the Caribbean," said Hugh Riley, the CTO's secretary general.
"Craig Landry has a complete understanding of Air Canada's pivotal role in the current environment, Canada's importance to the Caribbean, its economic challenges and opportunities, and its unique relationship with our region."
The CTO State of the Industry Conference is the pre-eminent tourism gathering in the region. It brings together tourism decision-makers, including ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism, hotel and airline executives, travel agents, students, the media and persons directly and indirectly involved in tourism and is preceded by CTO business meetings, including meetings of the board of directors and the Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism.
This year's conference is organized in collaboration with Barbados' Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.