Spice Island Beach Resort’s Sir Royston Hopkin First Hotelier to Receive Minister’s Outstanding Achievement Award
Honor presented at the Minister’s Tourism Awards held at Spice Island Beach Resort
GRAND ANSE BEACH, Grenada (July 22, 2019) – Respected Caribbean hotelier Sir Royston Hopkin KCMG, owner and chairman of the award-winning Spice Island Beach Resort (www.SpiceIslandBeachResort.com) in Grenada, has once again been recognized for his great accomplishments. The tourism industry icon was bestowed the Minister’s Outstanding Achievement Award from Hon. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, at the inaugural Minister’s Tourism Awards held at Spice Island Beach Resort.
The unprecedented accolade recognized Sir Royston for his years of dedicated service and contribution to tourism in Grenada and his ongoing pursuit of excellence and outstanding service at Spice Island Beach Resort.
“It is a true honor to be recognized by Hon. Clarice Modeste-Curwen with the Minister’s Outstanding Achievement Award,” said Sir Royston, who humbly accepted the award. “As I accept this prestigious recognition, I reflect on how far we’ve come and the continued growth we are realizing today. I am forever inspired by the warmth of our people as well as the beauty and abundance of our natural resources-and remain committed to tourism on our diamond that we call our island of Grenada.”
Sir Royston has had an extensive and distinguished career in the hospitality and tourism industry spanning more than 54 years of contributions to his home country, Grenada, and the entire Caribbean region.
Sir Royston began his tourism career when he joined the family business at the Ross Point Inn in 1965. Then, at the age of 20, he was appointed to the Grenada Board of Tourism where he served for 18 consecutive years. He holds the distinction of being the first Grenadian to be elected president of the Grenada Hotel Association (an accomplishment at the age of 24), a position he held 14 times.
In 1969, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Spice Island Inn, and in 1975, was appointed Deputy Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of the resort. He bought the Blue Horizon Hotel (now called Blue Horizons Garden Resort) along with his brothers Arnold and Gerald in 1978.
Sir Royston purchased a majority interest in Spice Island Inn in 1987 and became owner and chairman of the property, which he renamed Spice Island Beach Resort.
Under his skillful stewardship, the property expanded from 28 to 56 suites by 1990 and underwent a $6 million transformation in 2000, reopening with 66 elegant suites, a new spa, restaurant and bar. Also added were many enhanced services and amenities, further elevating the level of luxury at the property.
In 2004, Hurricane Ivan devastated the resort and Spice Island had to close its doors a second time. Undeterred, Sir Royston embarked on a US$12 million project to redesign and renovate the award-winning resort, which reopened on Dec. 15, 2005 at the highest level of Caribbean luxury and personalized service, with facilities on par with any major five-star resort in the world. The resort now employs 205 persons.
In 2013, Sir Royston invested in another multi-million dollar series of upgrades and enhancements to ensure the boutique resort remains at the forefront of the luxury tourism market.
At a regional level, Sir Royston has served on the Board of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), where he’s held numerous positions since 1970 including director, vice president, president and chairman. During his tenure with CHTA, Sir Royston founded the Small Hotels Committee, which today is still one of the most important sub-committees of the association. Sir Royston was also the youngest Director of CHTA ever elected.
Sir Royston was one of the first Grenadians to establish a Scholarship Fund for needy children when he adopted the Grand Anse R.C. School in 1992. He worked in collaboration with the Grenada Union of Teachers and the Ministry of Education to enlighten teachers about career opportunities within the Tourism Industry and created a lobby for tourism to be included in the schools’ curricula.
Sir Royston is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the coveted CHTA “Hotelier of the Year” honor, Lifetime Achievement Awards from CHTA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Grenada’s Silver Anniversary Independence Award for 25 years of dedicated service, the Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, and numerous other recognitions from the Grenada Hotel Association.
In December 2004, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously conferred the title of Knight Commander of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) for Sir Royston’s contribution to tourism in Grenada and throughout the Caribbean.
Today, Sir Royston is internationally known for his industry knowledge and savvy. He is the former Chairman of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). He is also an Honorary Director of CHTA and the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, and Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the Queen Elizabeth Home for Children.
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