CHTA DIRECTOR GENERAL AND CEO ALEC SANGUINETTI, SIR ROYSTON HOPKIN, EDNA BISSELL (BILL BISSELL'S WIDOW) AND CHTA PRESIDENT ENRIQUE DE MARCHENA KALUCHE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE BILL BISSELL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT CHTIC IN BERMUDA.

BERMUDA (April 16, 2009) – The life and career achievements of Sir Royston O. Hopkin, KCMG, owner and chairman of Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada, were celebrated by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) with the presentation of the Bill Bissell Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) April 14 - 16 at the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda.

Sir Royston joins an esteemed list of past honorees such as philanthropists and industry veterans including, Peter Dolara, American Airlines; Sol Kerzner, Kerzner Resorts International; Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Sandals Resorts; Chris Blackwell, Island Outpost; and the late Bill Bissell, OBM International, for whom the award was renamed after he was recognized posthumously at last year's CHTIC.

Sir Royston O. Hopkin, KCMG, is the owner and chairman of the award-winning Spice Island Beach Resort.  He has had an extensive and distinguished career in the hospitality and tourism industry spanning 44 years of contributions to his home country, Grenada, and the entire Caribbean region.

As a result of his long-time dedication to the development and promotion of Grenada and Caribbean tourism in general, Sir Royston was graciously conferred the honor of Knighthood by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.  Sir Royston was the first and only Caribbean hotelier to be knighted by the Queen.

At a regional level, Sir Royston has served on the board of CHTA since 1970, where he held numerous positions including director, vice president, president and chairman.

During his tenure with CHTA, Sir Royston founded the Small Hotels Committee and launched the Small Hotels Conference, which today are still one of the most important sub-committees and events of the association.  Sir Royston has also served on the board of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) with government ministers from across the region.

Sir Royston is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the coveted CHTA “Hotelier of the Year” honor (in 1991), Grenada's Silver Anniversary Independence Awards for 25 years of dedicated service, and several other awards from the Grenada Hotel Association and CHTA.  CTO has also honored Sir Royston for 25 years of loyalty and service to the region.

Currently, Sir Royston is honorary director of CHTA and chairman of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST).  He serves as a member of the Airlift Committee in Grenada and is an honorary director of the Grenada Hotel Association.

A dedicated philanthropist, Sir Royston founded the Royston Hopkin Scholarship Fund in 1992.  Each year since its inception, the foundation has awarded a minimum of five full tuition and book scholarships, each for a period of seven years or to the completion of tertiary level education.  To date, the fund has contributed to the education of over 66 students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the private and public sectors.

He holds many other memberships including the Board of Trustees of the Queen Elizabeth Home and is a director on the boards of numerous private sector companies.

The CHTA Lifetime Achievement Award was named for Bill Bissell, the driving force behind development of OBM International, and a mentor to many in the Caribbean hospitality industry.  In addition to his leadership role in the architecture, design and development community, Bissell contributed much of his time to industry organizations such as CHTA, CAST, Urban Land Institute, and many others.

History of Spice Island Beach Resort

In 1969, Sir Royston joined a group of investors who had bought the 20-room Spice Island Inn and within the year they increased the suite count to 30.  Hospitality was in the Hopkin blood, and by 1978 Sir Royston had bought Blue Horizon Hotel (now called Blue Horizons Garden Resort), along with his brothers Arnold and Gerald.

In 1989, Sir Royston purchased the Spice Island Inn and grew the property from 28 to 56 suites. In 2000, the resort underwent a $6 million transformation and re-opened on Dec. 2 of that year as the “NEW” Spice Island Beach Resort, showcasing 66 elegant suites, a new spa, and a new restaurant and bar, along with many enhanced services and amenities, further elevating the level of luxury at the property.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Sir Royston became inspired and set forth on his most ambitious project yet – to oversee the total rebirth of Spice Island Beach Resort with a massive $12 million rebuilding and restyling effort.

The property re-opened in December 2005 and unveiled an unmatched level of accommodations and unprecedented brand of chic style and timeless luxury in the Caribbean.

Today the award-winning Spice Island Beach Resort features 64 elegantly-appointed suites, a full-service Janissa's Spa, Cybex® fitness center, Oliver's beachside gourmet restaurant, the Sea & Surf Terrace for refreshing cocktails throughout the day, a central swimming pool with swim-up whirlpool, an Omnicourt® tennis court, the Nutmeg Pod children's activity center, the Gatsby Boutique and more.

A testament to its high-quality vacation experience, Spice has earned the number one rating as the most popular property on Grenada based on the TripAdvisor® Popularity Index, received the AAA Four Diamond Rating® for the last six years, and is an esteemed member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World Collection and the exclusive Virtuoso network's Hotels & Resorts Program.  For more information, please visit http://www.spiceislandbeachresort.com.