Jamaican hotelier John Issa has been awarded The Bahamas’ Order of Excellence. The honor was presented to him by Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt and Prime Minister Philip Davis in recognition of his outstanding service and friendship to the Government and people of The Bahamas.
Established in 2016, the Order of Excellence is one of the highest honors awarded by the Bahamian government, and it represents the highest accolade given to a non-citizen. It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to The Bahamas.
Upon receiving the award, Issa expressed his gratitude, stating, “This honor is very special to me because I have long considered The Bahamas my second home. Being recognized by a country other than your own is particularly gratifying.”
There has only been three previous recipients of this award: Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and US Congresswoman Maxine Waters in 2023, and Frank Crothers in 2020.
John Issa’s contributions to the hospitality sector span over six decades. He is credited with introducing the all-inclusive concept to Jamaica when he opened Negril Beach Village in 1976. In 1978, he further revolutionized the resort industry by launching the world’s first fully all-inclusive holiday, which included drinks, airport transfers, and tours, ensuring vacations with no hidden costs. These innovations had a significant impact on the Jamaican economy and set a trend that has been adopted globally.
Over the years, SuperClubs Resorts has operated 25 hotels across eight countries, including Jamaica, The Bahamas, Cuba, St. Lucia, Panama, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Curaçao. Issa has a long-standing relationship with The Bahamas, making his first investment there in 1979. Since then, he has undertaken several major investments, including the purchase of the Ambassador Beach Hotel in 1994. After extensive renovations, he reopened it as Breezes Bahamas in 1995. This was not only the first fully all-inclusive resort in The Bahamas but also notable for having a 99 percent Bahamian workforce. The resort has continued to operate successfully since its opening.
After Hurricane Dorian struck The Bahamas in 2019, Breezes served as a refuge for many Bahamians fleeing Grand Bahama and Abaco, providing them with much-needed shelter. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the tourism sector came to a standstill, Issa made Breezes available to the Government of The Bahamas, first as a quarantine facility and later as a hospital.
Issa has also contributed to The Tribune, one of the leading newspapers in The Bahamas, where he wrote a column titled “View From Afar,” covering a range of topics over the years.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and national honors, including the Order of Jamaica (1998), the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (1983) from Jamaica, and The Order of the Southern Cross (2001) from Brazil.
