StewartGORDON 'BUTCH' Stewart, founder and chairman of Sandals, was presented with an award for his contribution to the travel industry at this year's British Travel industry Hall of Fame.
Mr. Stewart actually won the award last year but was unable to attend the ceremony so the presentation took place at this year's ceremony.
Mr. Stewart is part of an elite group from the travel, tourism and hospitality industries who are honoured each year for their outstanding contribution. This year's Hall of Fame welcomed Easy Group chairman Stelios Hajiloannou, president and CEO of Amadeus, Jose Antonio Tazon, Harold Bamberg who introduced vertical integration in the UK travel sector and Dinesh Dhamijia, founder and CEO of ebookers.
Trevor Harding, publisher at Travel Weekly, who presented Mr Stewart's award said, "Famously hands-on and involved in all aspects of his business, he created the businesses, runs the businesses, and drives the businesses using not only his remarkable business acumen, but his enormous personality and charm, his straight speaking, to-the-point manner, his personal style and his sense of humour. He is an outstanding man."
Previous winners of the prestigious award include Sir Richard Branson, Virgin; Freddy Laker, Skytrain and Harry Goodman, Intersun.
The invitations to potential new members to join Hall of Fame are made by a nominating committee which consists of senior industry leaders, sponsor representatives and a few existing members of the Hall of Fame. Trade associations and other industry bodies are also actively encouraged to suggest new members and Travel Weekly (the media sponsor) canvasses its readers for suggestions.
