adam stewart

What are the Characteristics of a Five Star Resort?

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about what distinguishes a five star resort from the rest of the pack.

According to our experts, one of the most important features of a five star resort starts with the professionalism of its staff, the people who run the resort and work there. Of course, the quality of the accommodations and other facilities at the hotel in addition to the food are also a major part of the vacation experience, as well.

The best resorts are ones that are unique in some way, with location being a key variable. Lastly, our experts all agree--a resort that has a sense of place and reflects the culture where it is located, is of utmost importance.

"You don't want to go to a resort that stands on its own, in its own little world and doesn't reflect what is going on around it," says Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts in the Turks & Caicos.

In this video, Advani, along with Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

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Martha Stewart and Sandals Resorts International Team to Offer Destination Weddings

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Looking for a tropical destination for the wedding of a lifetime? Look no further than one of the 18 different Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts located throughout the Carribbean. Sandals Resorts International, which hosts as many as 13,000 weddings each year, is collaborating with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to offer six different wedding themes. On January 1, Sandal's began offering Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart, featuring coordinated color palettes, beautifully designed wedding décor, complimentary bouquets, invitations, cakes and favors, along with à la carte items, creating a memorable experience to suit a couple's unique preferences. "We have a fundamental mind set that the wedding day has to be perfect and flawless," says Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International. "We are constantly trying to find new and innovative ways to deliver that experience for the bride and groom. That road led us to Martha Stewart, who is a visionary. " Watch this video to hear more from Adam Stewart and see a Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart firsthand.

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What's the Best Way to Research a Luxury Vacation?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the best ways to research a luxury vacation.

How important is word of mouth? Do travel agents still play a key role? How important is the Internet in the research process? Are websites, including Facebook and TripAdvisor, gaining in their importance?

Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

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