Sandals founder and chair Gordon "Butch" Stewart has died aged 79, his son Adam has confirmed.
Stewart said his father, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, "lived a big life" and was a "fierce champion" of the Caribbean and its tourism industry.
Butch is credited with popularising the all-inclusive resort experience throughout the Caribbean, building Sandals to a market leader.
According to Stewart, in a statement provided to the Jamaica Observer, his father opted to keep "a very recent health diagnosis" private.