Sandals Resorts International in Talks to Sell: Reports

Multiple reports are circulating that Sandals Resorts is in talks to sell the company, a deal that could be worth between $6 -7 Billion USD.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday afternoon that Sandals Resorts International is “restarting efforts to sell itself after years of family infighting following its founder’s death, according to people familiar with the matter.” Founder Butch Stewart died in 2021. Stewart founded the company in 1981 and his son Adam took over as Chairperson following his death. The family has reportedly been involved in a legal battle since Butch’s death over his estate, involving his common-law wife Cheryl Hammersmith-Stewart and his children from previous marriages.

The speculation on the sale comes at a time the company is experiencing unprecedented growth across its properties. Just last week in NYC, Stewart announced Sandals had launched a new global brand campaign for both Beaches and Sandals, with plans to double the Beaches footprint over the next four years, with three new resorts and major expansions at Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril.

Stewart, the son of Sandals/Beaches founder Butch Stewart, called the news the “biggest announcements we’ve ever made.” 

Stewart told Travel Market Report Canada’s John Kirk at the event that they were also focusing on the Bahamas and the southern Caribbean island of Barbados.

“We’re going to hop on a flight just one hour from Jamaica, or 40 minutes from Miami, to the incredible archipelago of Exumas in the Bahamas. We acquired a five-year old Four Seasons Resort, we ran it as a Sandals Resort for many years and are converting it to a Beaches Resort. Beaches Exuma has already started construction,” Stewart added.

To watch Stewart’s interview with John Kirk last week in NYC, click here.