When the opportunity arose to purchase the former Four Seasons resort on Great Exuma, Butch Stewart, founder of Sandals resorts was quick to move on it.

“We know the property well,” says his son and Sandals chief executive officer Adam in an interview in the July 2010 issue of The Bahamas Investor. “Eighteen years ago we went down there and looked at the land before it was developed, but we didn’t have any intention to buy the property. Then, in June last year, we heard on the grapevine that the site was coming up for grabs and the receivers had broken the lease with Four Seasons. We quickly made some phone calls and closed the deal in 45 days.”

That deal, worth $26 million, bought the Stewarts a 500-acre chunk of paradise on the northern shore of Great Exuma island, into which they have since sunk a further $20 million to “Sandalize” the existing Four Seasons resort.

“We have three architects and 16 interior designers that work for us full time. We had a crew at the Emerald Bay site within days of closing the deal,” says Adam, explaining how the resort was up and running and ready for its first guests within six months of purchase.

“When we take over hotels, we try to look to see where the previous owners went wrong. Four Seasons is an amazing hotel company, but they are a big company. We on the other hand are a pioneering, innovative company that can bob and weave a lot easier than the bigger guys. We can react quickly to what the customer wants. And what they were saying to us about the Four Seasons resort was that it was beautiful, but did not have enough facilities or entertainment. It had no soul. Basically, it was a diamond that needed polishing.”

For more information visit the Sandals Emerald Bay website