BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS — Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International, has been designated as the keynote speaker at the upcoming State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Barbados.

Taking place on Sept. 14-16, SOTIC has been called the Caribbean’s most important tourism gathering, brining together tourism decision-makers like ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism, hotel and airline executives, as well as travel agents, students and media. This year’s conference is organized in collaboration with Barbados’ Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

Stewart’s keynote address will take place on the first full day of the conference at the Hilton Barbados Resort. His presentation will focus on the conference theme, ‘Honouring Our Legacy, Defining Our Future,’ and is expected to draw on his personal experiences as Sandal CEO in leading the growth and expansion of the global brand.

“We are honoured and excited to announce Mr. Adam Stewart, the chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, as the keynoter for SOTIC. Sandals is an influential Caribbean brand. Its impact on the economies of the countries in which it operates, and the other benefits it brings such as immense global exposure which we otherwise could not afford, cannot be missed,” said Richard Sealy, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Barbados’ minister of tourism and international transport.

Stewart also added: “As chief executive officer of a brand born in the Caribbean, it is my sincere pleasure to join my colleagues and my friends this September in Barbados to discuss not only the state of our industry but the myriad of opportunities that lie ahead. We are on the precipice of interesting days and I am excited to consider how, together, we will continue to make a visit to the Caribbean absolutely compelling.”

Also billed as a leading presenter at SOTIC is Craig Landry, the president of Air Canada Leisure Group, who will be the featured speaker on Sept. 16.

“The combination of a keynoter who is the chief executive officer of the Caribbean’s foremost hotel brand – Adam Stewart of Sandals – and a featured speaker who is from Air Canada, signals the importance we attach to our vision for the Caribbean,” said Hugh Riley, the CTO’s secretary general.

For more information on SOTIC or to register for the conference, go to onecaribbean.org.