John Issa awarded Bahamian nat’l honour

SuperClubs Resorts Chairman John Issa has been named a member of The Bahamas Order of Excellence by Bahamas Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt and Prime Minister Philip Davis, in recognition of his exemplary service and friendship to the Government and people of that nation.

Membership in the Order of Excellence, founded in 2016, is one of the highest seven honours given by the Government of The Bahamas, and the highest given to a non-citizen. It is conferred upon persons who are not citizens of The Bahamas who have given exemplary service to that country.

“This honour is very special to me because I have long considered The Bahamas my second home. To be recognised by a country other than your own is particularly gratifying,” Issa said upon receiving the award.

There have only been three previous recipients of this award: Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and United Congresswoman Maxine Waters, in 2023, and Frank Crothers, in 2020.

Issa, affectionately known as the Father of the All-Inclusive, introduced the all-inclusive concept to Jamaica when he opened Negril Beach Village in 1976. He revolutionised the resort industry again in 1978 when he took the all-inclusive concept further with the creation of the world’s first totally all-inclusive holiday, which included drinks, airport transfers and tours, among other things, promising vacations with no hidden costs. Both events were of great significance to the Jamaican economy and the concept has since been imitated all over the world. His contribution to the hospitality sector spans more than six decades. His SuperClubs Resorts has, over the years, operated 25 hotels over six brands in eight countries: Jamaica, The Bahamas, Cuba, St Lucia, Panama, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Curaçao.

Issa has a long association with The Bahamas. He made his first investment in The Bahamas in 1979 and, during the 45 years since that initial investment, he has made many other major investments. In 1994, he purchased the Ambassador Beach Hotel and, after significant investment and renovations, reopened the hotel as Breezes Bahamas in 1995. Not only was it the first fully all-inclusive resort in The Bahamas but it was also the first major resort in The Bahamas that had a 99 per cent Bahamian team. It has operated continuously since that time.

After Hurricane Dorian hit The Bahamas in 2019, Breezes housed many Bahamians who had to flee Grand Bahama and Abaco and needed somewhere to stay.

During COVID when the tourism industry came to a halt, Issa allowed the Bahamas Government to use Breezes first as a quarantine facility and then as a hospital.

For many years, Issa was a contributor to The Tribune (one of the leading newspapers in The Bahamas), writing on wide-ranging topics in his column View From Afar.

Issa has received many prestigious awards and national honours, including membership in the Order of Jamaica (1998), the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (1983) (Jamaica), and The Order of the Southern Cross (2001) (Brazil).