EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Sunwing Vacations President Andrew Dawson to Join Royalton International as CFO

Travel Market Report Canada has learned that former Sunwing Vacations president Andrew Dawson will join Royalton International, the fast-expanding all-inclusive hospitality brand that operates over 24 luxury properties across the Caribbean and Mexico.

Owned by the Hunter family, the Royalton Group was not part of the sale of the Sunwing Vacations Group to the WestJet Group.

Dawson spent more than 16 years with Sunwing, first as Chief Operating Officer and President of Tour Operations. Following the purchase by the WestJet Group, Dawson spent nearly three years as President of Sunwing Vacations Group before departing in March of this year.

An accountant by profession, Dawson will now head up the financial side of Royalton. His earlier career milestones included roles as President of Sunquest from 2004-2007 and EVP Canada of TUI. Dawson has also served as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).

“We are excited to have Andrew Dawson join us as CFO,” Stephen Hunter, President and CEO of Royalton International, told TMR in a text exchange. “His experience speaks for itself. He will play a meaningful role as we continue with our growth strategy in the years to come.”

“It’s a big change for me, both in terms of moving away from the Tour Operating business and moving back into more of a supporting Finance role,” Dawson told Travel Market Report Canada.   

“That said, I’m very excited for this new beginning and the opportunity to help Stephen, Jordi (Pelfort, President, Royalton Hotels & Resort), Ruben (Gutiérrez, GoNexus Group, Nexus Tours) and all their teams continue their impressive growth.”