6 minute read
B3 ISLAN’DAD
B3 Islan’Dad . Adam Stewart
By Michelle Gordon and Joni Wedderburn Photography: Dwayne Watkins Shot on location: Montego Bay, Jamaica Children's Wardrobe: Cradle to Footsteps
He’s the Caribbean’s youngest CEO, overseeing a hospitality and service empire that spans a veritable globe. At 33, he heads 19 resorts in 6 countries, the largest automobile dealer in Jamaica, an appliance sales and service enterprise, and several other private entities. He’s a business powerhouse with a nononsense reputation for discipline and strong work ethos. But to 4-year-old Aston, 2-year-old Sloan and 4-month-old Camden, he’s simply Daddy. Board meetings, conference calls and property purchases mean ‘diddly squat’ in the face of story-time, sand castles and tea parties.
Stealing Adam Stewart away from work for a few hours was a lot easier than we had imagined. He was only too happy to put his feet up and sit with us for a chat. We’re glad he did.
Were you in the delivery room for your children’s births? If yes, how was that experience for you?
I’m proud to say that I have attended the births of all three of my children. Given the nature of my job, that's much easier said than done! Sloan’s birth proved to be the most exciting. Jill was in London and I was in Montego Bay when her mother called to tell me her ‘waters’ had broken. It was 4 p.m. and there was a flight from Kingston at 6 p.m. – over three hours away by car. Thankfully one of our company planes was on the ground and I was able to scream to Kingston, book a ticket and get to London. I walked through arrivals with my briefcase and the shirt on my back. As it turned out, it was just Jill’s ‘back waters’ and she didn’t give birth until two days later!
Was it easy/ challenging for you and Jill to agree on the names of your children?
It was very easy. Jill’s father is British, as is my mother and so, whilst we are both proudly Caribbean, we share a deep love of the United Kingdom. It was unintentional but each of our children’s names is connected in some way to the place.
What activities do you like to do with your children?
I, much like my father, spent my childhood growing up on the water: whether at a beach or on a boat, and our kids are no different. When Jill was pregnant, we purposely spent as much time as possible in and around the ocean and our children enjoy it as much as we do.
I play a lot of football with Aston and both he and Sloan have little scooters which are a lot of fun and I’m not too macho to play with Sloan’s tea set once in a while as well!
How would you describe your parenting style? In what ways is it similar to or different from your own father’s style?
I try to be as hands-on as I possibly can, and involve myself in what they do, and likewise, I try to take them with me when I travel. They love it and we are able to spend time with one another too.
Parenthood between my generation and my father's is very hard to compare because they’re in two different times. Nowadays, parents are much more hands-on: changing nappies, cleaning up their mess and so on. That wasn’t the case in my father’s time.
What’s the most important lesson you learned from your father?
My dad instilled a sense of principle: the difference between right and wrong. It is a wonderful foundation on which to raise kids, and one we also try to impart to our children too.
What’s the most important lesson you want to teach your children?
I would dearly love to instill in them the importance of family - of being surrounded by people who love and support them unconditionally whatever it is they want to do in life.
What has been most surprising about parenthood for you? What were your expectations about being a parent and how are they different from the reality?
A lot of parenthood is almost clichéd but that’s because it’s true. When you see your children it’s almost hard to imagine being in love with anything else as much, and they become the centre of your universe. You also have a deeper respect for your own parents because you come to realise that parenting is neither easy nor obvious. I was born the same year my dad opened the first Sandals Resort in 1981, and as a result I spent lots of time with my mum. At the time you don’t appreciate how challenging it is until of course you are doing it yourself.
Is 3 the magic number or do you want to have more children?
Three is definitely the magic number. It’s all we can get in the back of the car!
How has becoming a dad changed or impacted you as a person?
It’s certainly made me think differently, that’s for sure. You align your priorities, your life completely, and remember that you are responsible for their well-being. I also accept that the carefree part of life disappears!
With 3 kids, how do you ensure that you're spending quality time with each of them?
Aston and Sloan are relatively similar in age and are developing their personalities more or less at the same time and can play together whereas Camden is a babe in arms which certainly makes things easier. It’s hard work of course but the trick is spending as much time as possible together as a family.
With Adam so often off in his global o ces, do Aston, Sloan and Camden have any idea that their Daddy is such a hard-worker? Not likely. “My family is the world to me, so I do what I have to do ensure that they know that. When I’m with them, I’m all theirs. And they know, even when I’m at work, I’m still theirs,” laughs an obviously proud and happy father.
So with expansion plans in the works for the Sandals chain, Adam Stewart is sure to have his hands full with acquisitions and business deals. Though he has been charged with the continued success of the empire his father built decades ago, his most important role yet, has and continues to be doting daddy, playmate and mentor to his three children.
Adam Stewart is the CEO of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), which owns and operates Caribbean-based Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts.
