Founder and chairman of Sandals Resorts, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, has admitted he has his eyes on No Man’s Land for a 750-room hotel in Tobago.
Stewart’s admission comes as an online petition, calling on the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to start public consultation and have full disclosure and accountability on the proposed development in Tobago, continues to garner support. The petition has been organised by businessman Dedan Daniel and has so far secured over 2,000 signatures. The petition started last month, days after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced the proposal.
Daniel had objected to No Man’s Land being used as the site for the proposed hotel, but there had been no confirmation from the THA or Government that this was the location being looked at until Stewart’s admission.
When questioned about the petition on social media on Wednesday by the T&T Guardian, Stewart pointed out that the site belonged to the people of Tobago.
“That was just a discussion. I like the site,” he admitted.
Asked if he was interested in buying the site, Stewart said he was interested in whatever has to be done.
“We are focused on that particular site (No Man’s Land). If that does not work we will look at another site,” he told the T&T Guardian.
Although Stewart has looked around Tobago, he said they were unable to identify another location.
Situated on 600-acres of sprawling land, No Man’s Land forms part of the Bon Accord Lagoon at Golden Grove, Buccoo, which is a mangrove wetlands and an important habitat for many species of birds. It can only be reached by boat. But in response to the petition, THA Chief Secretary Orville London has said No Man’s Land will remain a public space.
Asked how far discussions between Sandals and the THA had reached, Stewart said talks were still in the “infancy stages.”
The hotel tycoon said discussions were hinged on putting his Sandals brand on the island and developing Tobago as a tourism destination in order to generate jobs, revenue and foreign exchange. Asked how long he had been eyeing Tobago, Stewart said, “Too long. Probably 15 or 17 years.”
Sandals has opened its doors in Antigua, Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia and Turks and Caicos and has 20 hotels in operation.
“I really do like it (Tobago). I have liked Tobago a lot. I just think it is nice. It’s refreshing and unusual. I know quite a few of the people there,” Stewart said.
“I believe the Government and people can get so much out of Tobago. What I found very refreshing, is that the Government really seems to want to bring Tobago into the mainstream tourism. I think the beauty of Tobago in its present state, is that any development in going forward, will only enhance the island.”
Three things that melted his heart on visiting Tobago was its vegetation, beaches and topography, he said. Known as the “King of All-Inclusive Resorts”, Stewart could not say what would be the projected cost to construct a five-star hotel on the island.
“Those costs can vary. It depends on what you build,” he said. He said almost every country in the world was focusing on tourism because it is a revenue earner, adding countries that do not have natural resources such as oils and gas, use the environment, recreation, nature, pleasure, sport, health and cultural tourism to earn money.
“Tobago has good tropical beaches, which would put the country into main tourism,” Stewart pointed out.
When Stewart started his hotel chain in 1981, he admitted that the environment was just a word in the dictionary.
“Nobody paid attention to the environment. These days the first thing you look at is the word environment and its environmental impacts, the economic footprints and how it is going to help. Tourism is the business of the future. There are so many people around the world who are being trained in tourism.”
Stewart tipped his hat to Tobago’s hoteliers for doing a “huge job. When you consider they really do not get a lot of support in my view.
“What we are looking at is development, which we want take it up to speed so the hoteliers can benefit.”
The business tycoon said he felt that tourism in Trinidad also did not have a focal point.
“You have a lot of oil money. But it has potential for tourism as well.”
Rowley keen even before he was PM
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley approached Jamaican hotel tycoon Gordon “Butch” Stewart to bring the Sandals chain to Tobago before he had won last year’s general election.
Stewart confirmed this in an email interview with the T&T Guardian, noting Rowley approached he and his son Adam when they were here in mid-2015 for a function hosted by the T&T Manufacturers’ Association.
“Adam was a guest speaker at the manufacturing association. A gentleman came up to me and said when I become prime minister I am going to give you a call,” Stewart recalled, noting that man was Rowley.
After winning the 2015 general election, Stewart said he received a call from Rowley.
“He called and he said, ‘look, I would like to have talks with you.’ He (Rowley) told me that he would like to see Tobago take advantage of its natural resources.”
Since then, Stewart said he has had a couple of “good” meetings with the THA and Government ministers.
“Obviously, we discussed things like airlifts and so on. I know the first conversation I had, as short as it was, it was pleasant and serious. We would have to digest stuff right around. What I can tell you, is that I sense a determination to make Tobago work a lot better for the country. I find they (Government) are serious people.”
He said, however, that before a hotel can be established there must be granting of approvals and environmental studies undertaken.
“The environmental science would be at the top of the pile. A lot of things too the Government would have to weigh very carefully.”
Asked what would be the financial arrangement between Sandals and the Government, Stewart shied away from the question. “No! you are jumping far ahead. The idea of us being in Tobago, to me, is a lot of excitement.”
Asked when we could see Sandals opening its doors in Tobago if all goes according to his plans, Stewart said, “We are probably looking at three to three-and-a-half years to have guests in the hotel and service running up.
“We would have a lot of bridges to cross before that. I can’t tell you. We are definitely running to the beat of the Government. The Government would dictate the speed of this.”
On the revenue a Sandals could generate for Tobago, he said, “That depends on the scope of development. It would be very significant. Look, your tourism industry in Tobago is in its infancy stages.” He said, however, that Sandals had been raking in revenue for Grenada and Barbados and driving St Lucia’s economy.
“We employed more people in St Lucia than anybody else. We earn more foreign exchange than anybody else,” he said, noting Sandals Resorts has approximately 14,000 employees on its payroll.