Sir Royston O. Hopkin KCMG, owner and chairman of Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada, died on Monday following complications from heart surgery. He was 75 years old.
Sir Royston, the only Caribbean hotelier ever knighted by the Queen of England, had an extensive and distinguished career in the hospitality and tourism industry spanning more than 55 years of contributions to his home country, Grenada, and the entire Caribbean region.
Sir Royston is one of the most decorated and honored hoteliers throughout the Caribbean. He was known not only for his work in developing tourism in Grenada, but in helping grow tourism all across the Caribbean region as he worked as a volunteer on the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and along with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) officials to help hoteliers and destinations develop their individual products.
He was the recipient of many awards including the CHTA Hotelier of the Year, in addition to Lifetime Achievement Awards from CHTA and the CTO, the Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, the inaugural Minister's Outstanding Achievement Award from Hon. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit, the Trail Blazer's Award at the International African American Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit & Trade Show and numerous other recognitions from the Grenada Hotel Association.
Sir Royston Hopkin is survived by his wife Lady Betty Hopkin and four children, Ryan, Nerissa, Janelle and Samantha, and four grandchildren Téa, Layan, Natanya and baby Royston, as well as three brothers, three sisters and the entire family of Spice Island Beach Resort.
Sir Royston's life will be celebrated on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
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