Sandals Resorts International has made strides over the years to improve its messaging to the LGBT market, even changing its mission statement back in 2004 from “Couples only” to "Sandals Resorts warmly welcomes all adult couples."
And now the resort company is getting a glowing endorsement from country music personality Cody Alan, who recently announced he proposed to his partner, Michael Trea Smith, at Sandals South Coast in Jamaica.
“Popping the question at Sandals South Coast in Jamaica was truly amazing,” said Alan, CMT’s award-winning radio and television personality, in a written statement. “The beach there is hands down the most gorgeous I’d ever seen.”
Alan was hosting a "Story Behind the Songs LIV+" event at Sandals, a concert series in partnership with Premiere Networks from September 4-7, when he decided to ask his boyfriend to marry him.
And this isn’t the first time Travel Agent has seen or heard of an increased LGBT presence at Sandals Resorts.
Back in 2015, we noticed a gay couple during a visit to Sandals Barbados and then two lesbian couples during a tour of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa a few weeks after.
Although these were the first three LGBT couples Travel Agent had ever seen in nearly 10 years of covering Sandals Resorts International, as we stated when we originally reported on this, it wasn’t entirely about the numbers. It's more about what this represents: A company's willingness to adapt.
Visit www.sandals.com and www.beaches.com. Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest travel news and be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260.
Related Stories
Top LGBT-Friendly Hotels in the Caribbean
LGBTQ Resort in Mexico Casa Cupula Celebrates 15th Year
The Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality
Expert: Study Represents Hawaii’s Most Aggressive Push for LGBT Market in Years