March 18, 2009 - SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES CREATION OF PHILANTHROPIC ARM, THE SANDALS FOUNDATION

MONTEGO BAY, March 18, 2009 – Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, The Royal Plantation Collection and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, announced the creation of The Sandals Foundation, the Caribbean resort company’s official philanthropic arm on Wednesday March 18, 2009 in Montego Bay. The newly established organization will aim to unite the region under one common goal: to elevate its people and protect its delicate ecosystem.

The Sandals Foundation seeks to harness the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the Sandals Resorts brand to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the Caribbean under three broad headings: 1). community, 2). education and 3). environment. The Sandals Foundation is led by Stewart, as well as a board of directors comprised of top SRI executives, who have been selected for their commitment to the Foundation’s mission, their range of experience, as well as their personal life experiences. According to Stewart, the Foundation will make a real difference in the Caribbean through “changing lives, shaping futures and lifting spirits” and  will enable SRI to significantly increase its financial commitment to people and communities most in need from the current US$11 million (per year) by 2011.

Corporate social responsibility has been an operations mandate at SRI since the company’s founding in 1982.  From sponsoring schools and conducting health screenings to supporting local farmers and cleaning up beaches, more than 10,000 SRI employees throughout the Caribbean are given opportunities to participate in caring for the communities where Sandals Resorts International operates.  According to Stewart, the work of the Foundation is both a mission and passion for his family. “It is my great pleasure to put a formal and transparent face on the work my father [SRI founder and chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart] began more than thirty years ago: to make the Caribbean a better place for the people who live and work here,” Stewart said.  “We are the Caribbean.  As my father taught me long ago, we have the means, and therefore the responsibility, to act.” 

Citing that education “provides the best opportunity for individuals as well as nations to improve their lot,” Stewart emphasized that this will continue be a cornerstone of the Foundation’s work. All SRI resorts across the Caribbean are required to adopt schools and, in some cases, entire communities to ensure that the message of health, safety, environmental concern and opportunity is filtered throughout.  From procuring new computer labs and building additional classrooms, to funding scholarships for top performing students and hosting career days, resort staff members continually share their resources with the Caribbean’s youth.  Under the Foundation, Mentorship programs will also be expanded and fostered further to encourage and nurture the success of local residents.

Healthcare and empowerment are also top community priorities for The Sandals Foundation.  The company sponsors several health clinics to help ensure that all members of the community have access to proper healthcare. Each year, the company supports the international humanitarian group, “Great Shape 1000 Smiles Project,” that provides communities in Jamaica with free dental care. Through this backing, more than thirty dental professionals from the U.S. provide a range of complimentary services including cleanings, fillings and sealants at temporary dental clinics.  Education programs aimed at healthy living are also part of the Foundation’s work including HIV/AIDS awareness, senior citizen wellness and youth arts and sports programs. Hospitality training programs for resident citizens and agricultural partnerships with local farmers are among the empowerment programs that teach lifelong skills and provide economic opportunity.

The final component to the Foundation’s mission is the environment and here, Sandals Resorts has a long tradition of protecting the region it calls home.  Today, all Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts are certified by Green Globe– the worldwide benchmarking and certification program for sustainable travel and tourism. This was achieved in concert with the local community where SRI, and now The Sandals Foundation, work tirelessly to restore, clean and maintain the region’s delicate coral reef; educate fishermen on environmentally-friendly fishing practices; and regularly conduct beach clean-ups and tree-planting programs.

In December 2008, Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa became the world’s first and sole recipient of the inaugural Green Globe Platinum Certification Award. Green Globe recognized that Sandals Negril, which was also the first all-inclusive resort to earn Green Globe Certification, had reached an entirely new level of achievement in its sustainable tourism practices.  Green Globe Certified Platinum acknowledges Sandals Negril’s continuous certification under the Green Globe Company Standard for the past ten years. 

Among the resort’s most notable achievements, as outlined in a recent Onsite Certification Audit, are the preservation of local flora and fauna; housekeeping staff expertly trained on the latest

environmental practices; eco-friendly signage and postings located throughout the resort; and an onsite Green Team that executes activities such as beach and coral reef cleanups.   

SRI brand partners, some of the best known names in their respective fields, such as Sesame Workshop, have joined with The Sandals Foundation to expand its impact.  Throughout the year, the Sesame Street characters, who have been delighting Beaches Resorts guests for more than four years, journey into local communities to participate in anti-litter campaigns, teach children about road safety awareness, deliver holiday gifts to the poor and comfort the sick.  Sesame Workshop has also worked closely with Beaches Resorts to create ongoing educational programs such as “Story Time with Elmo,” designed to instill a passion for reading in children, and “Exploring with Grover,” an environmental program that emphasizes oceanography and teaches children how they can participate in making their world better.

Guests of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, The Royal Plantation Collection or Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts may also participate in the work of the Foundation through: cash donations made online or at the resorts; special purchases in the gift shop, with a percentage of proceeds going to the Foundation’s efforts; or community work, where guests can roll up their sleeves and donate some of their vacation time to work alongside resort team members out in the community.

To learn more about The Sandals Foundation, please visit www.sandalsfoundation.org, or send inquiries to: foundation@grp.sandals.com or call 876-684-8613.

Sandals Resorts:

Sandals Resorts has earned a worldwide reputation for providing two people in love with the most romantic vacation experience in the Caribbean. Currently, there are 12 Luxury IncludedÒ Sandals Resorts located in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and The Bahamas. Each offers stunning beachfront locations; a choice of à la carte restaurants, from white-glove dining to barefoot elegance; all premium brand wine and spirits, including an exclusive partnership with California's legendary Beringer Vineyards; luxurious accommodations in a range of categories; unrivaled watersports including the Caribbean's largest PADI certification program; Butler Service for truly indulgent pampering; Preston Bailey Signature WeddingMoons® and signature Red Lane® Spas, with services and treatments inspired by the region.  In July 2007, the five-star, all suite Mediterranean Village debuted at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, offering two people in love the ultimate romantic getaway.

Sandals Resorts has set the industry standard for the Luxury IncludedÒ vacation and has been voted the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand at the World Travel Awards for 15 years in a row, and World's Leading All-Inclusive Company for 13 years in a row.  For more information, visit www.sandals.com.

 Media Contact:  

Susan Pitter, Group PR & Communications Manager,

Sandals Resorts International

Tel: 979-9130  E-mail: spitter@grp.sandals.com