Hospitality Jamaica:: Nat'l honour for Sandals''Daddy Stone'

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Robert Edward Stone

Nat'l honour for Sandals''Daddy Stone'

The work and worth of Robert Edward Stone, popularly called 'Daddy Stone', the Sandals Montego Bay's veteran hotelier and director of services, will be recognised nationally on October 20 when he will receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service from Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall. The presentation will take place at King's House in Kingston.

Stone, who holds the distinction of being the first employee of Sandals, is being honoured for his more than 55 years of service and dedication to the hospitality industry, having started his career in the sector in 1942.

An elated 'Daddy Stone', in reflecting on the award, said, "I am a pleased man as after giving the best years of my life to the tourism industry, it is very heartening to know that there is some form of national recognition. I thank all those who saw it fit to nominate me for this award but, more important, those who have helped me to become a veteran of sports in this field."

apprentice at Casa Blanca

Stone, who was born in Negril, Westmoreland, in 1928, is one of a handful of people who celebrate their birthday every four years on February 29 (leap year). He first entered the working world at age 14 when he moved to Montego Bay and gained employment as an apprentice at Casa Blanca for two seasons. The decision to work as a busboy apprentice was not by choice as, in those days, youngsters were paid a stipend while working as an apprentice. However, Robert had no money to pay, and was allowed to join the programme on the basis of receiving no payment.

He gained employment at Gloucester House (now Gloucestershire Hotel) where he was paid a mere 30 shillings per week. He moved on to Montego Beach Resort where he worked as a waiter before being promoted to the position of dining room captain and then to assistant maître d'. Stone then made a decisive move to go back to where he started his tourism career at Gloucester House before joining the team at Seawind Hotel as maître d'.

He made yet another return to the Gloucester House before making the most decisive move of his tourism career in 1981.

That year proved to be a watershed year for Stone, as hotel mogul, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart had just purchased Bay Roc Hotel. Based on reports which Stewart, received, he immediately summoned Stone to take up the maître d' position at the hotel which was renamed Sandals Montego Bay, and the rest is history.

This man, who has consciously devoted over 55 years of his life to the hospitality industry in Jamaica, has won several awards. However, he said the award which brings him most satisfaction is his induction into the Sandals/Beaches Hall of Fame. This took place in 2004 in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Robert Stone is the only Sandals employee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which also includes a few Caribbean prime ministers.

Currently, Robert Stone is Sandals Montego Bay's director of services and he pays tribute to Gordon 'Butch' Stewart and the several hundred team members with whom he has worked and assisted in their training in the last almost 27 years. "These people have ensured that I am what I am today. I have, through my working in the hospitality industry and especially at Sandals Montego Bay, been able to assist hundreds of my fellow citizens financially and otherwise", he said.

commitment

In one sentence, Robert Stone states his commitment and dedication to Sandals or Sandals Montego Bay, saying, "I will not be leaving Sandals or Sandals Montego Bay; this is where I will retire."

Robert Stone was married for 44 years before his wife Ouida died in 2005. He still celebrates life with his four children ... one a medical doctor, another a business administrator and two are engineers. Apart from his four biological children, Robert Stone is also father to several hundred children whom he has helped and continues to help financially to attend school each year.