News for the Hospitality Executive |
MIAMI (April 4,
2011)
- Florida International University
Alumni Association honored School of Hospitality and Tourism
Management
alumnus Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals
Resorts
International
, with a Torch Award during the 10th annual Awards
Gala on Saturday, March 19. Stewart was recognized as one of the
university’s
most outstanding alumni for his contributions to the hospitality
industry, the
community and FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, one of
the
leading programs of its kind in the world offering an unmatched
experiential
learning environment to those studying hotel, foodservice and
travel-related
industries. Mark B. Rosenberg, FIU President (far left) presents the Torch Award to Adam Stewart, CEO Sandals Resorts International; alongside Rocco Angelo, Associate Dean, FIU School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (second from right); and Jack Gonzalez, FIU Alumni Association President Upon graduation in 2003, with a degree in hospitality management from the FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Stewart immediately joined Sandals Resorts International, which his father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart launched in 1981. He performed various jobs within the company, from reservations and meetings and incentives, to technology and public relations, before taking over as CEO in 2006. Stewart also founded the Sandals Foundation in 2008 to protect the ecosystems of the areas in which they have resorts and hotels. “I am honored to be recognized as a leader in the hospitality industry by the institution that helped cultivate my knowledge in the field,” said Stewart. “I have worked vigorously to act on the principles I learned from both Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and from my father, and attribute much of the success that I have achieved thus far to both of them.” Previous FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management alumni who have won Torch Awards include Humberto “Burt” Cabanas ’76, CEO, Benchmark Hospitality; Philip S. Goldfarb ’79, President, Fontainebleau Hotel; and Lani Kane-Hanan ’84, Senior VP, Marriott Vacation Club. About Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management: Florida International University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is one of the highest rated hospitality and tourism programs in the United States. Each year, over 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States and around the world choose FIU for its outstanding reputation, advantageous campus locations, expert faculty, rich curriculum, and fast-track career advantages in the international hotel, foodservice and tourism industries. In August 2006 FIU unveiled the first US School of Hospitality and Tourism in Tianjin, China. The Marriott Tianjin China Program is FIU’s largest international program, with a capacity for up to 2,000 students. For more information about Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, visit http://hospitality.fiu.edu/. About FIU: Florida International University is one of the 25 largest universities in the nation, with more than 42,000 students. Nearly 130,000 FIU alumni live and work in South Florida. Its colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. As one of South Florida’s anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. The opening of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in August 2009 has enhanced the university’s ability to create lasting positive change in our community. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/. |
Contact: Rebecca Rakitin M. Silver Associates 954-765-3636 |