September 25, 2026
For some reason I don’t think that the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart would have wanted any other entity to take a controlling stake in the Sandals empire he developed from the dirt up to what it is now.
Since his passing in 2021, his estate had to undergo a very testy court battle between his common law wife versus the children from his first marriage. It has been resolved and business resumed with Adam Stewart remaining as the hotel brand’s chief executive officer.
But now, Sandals is exploring a majority stake with Royal Caribbean. I don’t believe Butch Stewaert would have wanted the fall-out over his estate and now the subsequent consideration in selling a majority stake of his Sandals empire to a cruise line.
The only thing Royal Caribbean would do to Sandals is destroy it and in turn fashion in into one of their brand destinations. Most of those destinations, while they appear flashy, aren’t as good as authentic resort and hotel experiences. They are for the pop-corn and soda-pop generation and not for people looking for a vacation and relaxation mixed in with a good time.
We hope the Stewart family moves wisely with this Royal Caribbean stake talks. May it go well with them.