Sandals Resorts International (SRI) broke company records at this year’s World Travel Awards’ Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony, held October 19th in Montego Bay, Jamaica at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island. The Luxury Included Resort Company garnered 12 awards – the most awards ever won by SRI and a reflection of the continued evolution of the brand and its resorts.

Sandals’ two Bahamian properties each received top awards with Sandals Emerald Bay winning “Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive” and Sandals Royal Bahamian receiving and award for “Bahamas' Leading Spa Resort”.

In addition to this distinguished feat, Sandals Resorts International also received the notable accolade of Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand for the 18th year in a row. The Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, was on hand, along with several of the company’s top executives, to accept the awards.

“It is a true testament to our brand, and the team that supports it, to have won the highest number of awards in Sandals Resorts’ history during our 30th anniversary year,” Stewart, said. “We continue to invest in our product so that each year we can be proud to say we are Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand. Our number one priority remains to provide the best product and experience for our customers and we look forward to continuing to do so.”

Capping the impressive showing, the World Travel Awards further honored Sandals Resorts when it presented Chairman Stewart with the organization’s first-ever Tourism Pioneer Award. Recognizing individuals whose passion, commitment and trailblazing vision significantly improve the tourism industry, the Tourism Pioneer Award honors those who set a new standard, paving a new path for generations to follow.

“It is an interesting thing to be hailed for doing something you love and that you believe in and so it is with a humble and grateful heart that I accept this award,” said Stewart. “Since we began this company, we were determined to exceed expectations, to show the world what is possible in the Caribbean and to get better at serving our guests, our partners and the destinations where we operate every single year.”

SRI has not only gained a reputation as a leader in the luxury hospitality sector, but also is known for its commitment to creating timeless vacations through exceptional services and amenities. In order to stay ahead of the curve, SRI has undertaken large scale renovation projects at several of its resorts to leverage the guest experience to new heights. These renovations are part of a $500 million plan to expand and enhance the company’s offerings in the Caribbean over the coming decade.

The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 for the express purpose of acknowledging and celebrating achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry. This year’s voting campaign reached a total of 183,000 travel professionals worldwide in more than 160 countries. Nominations for this year’s World Travel Awards were based on the previous year’s voting.