Less than two weeks after an initial visit, chairman of Sandals Resorts International Gordon “Butch” Stewart was in Tobago again on Saturday to undertake an extensive aerial tour of the western peninsula of Tobago looking at prime real estate properties for possible investment.
At his last visit Butch Stewart toured several beach and hotel properties.
Minister of Tourism Shamfa Cudjoe joined a high-level team from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) led by the Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Tourism and Transport, Tracy Davidson-Celestine, on the aerial tour of Tobago.
In welcoming Butch Stewart again to Tobago, Cudjoe pointed to “the uniqueness of Trinidad and Tobago as a tourist destination given its cultural plurality, high level of education labour force and beautiful landscape; especially Tobago’s pristine beaches.” These precursory investment discussions from a world renowned hotel brand are quite encouraging for the viability of Tobago as an investment option and signal a shift in a positive direction.
Minister Cudjoe also outlined the Ministry’s plan to review, in short measure, the Tourism Development Act, which is the overriding authority for all tourism investments in Trinidad and Tobago, to ensure its competitiveness vis a vis other Caribbean destinations.
Both Trinidad and the sister isle of Tobago requires an injection of capital into the tourism sector so as to upgrade quality standards, generate sustainable jobs, revenue and much needed foreign exchange.
Hotel tycoon Butch Stewart appeared quite intrigued by all that he saw and thanked the delegation for the excellent hospitality provided to his team. After the aerial tour; more extensive discussions continued at the Coco Reef Resort and Spa with the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Orville London.
Gordon “Butch” Stewart was accompanied by a high level Sandals executive comprising his son Adam Stewart, who is the Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, as well as other top ranking officials namely:
• Danville Walker—Managing Director of the ATL Group
• Alan Clarke—Group Chief Financial Officer Sandals
• Shawn De Costa—Director of Operators Sandals