My Dinner with Butch Stewart- owner of Sandals!

[JenniferSS]

What a busy couple of weeks! First I was in Mexico doing the site visits (21 hotels in 3 days whew!) then the day after I got back in and my husband drove me 3 hrs to the Sandal "Grand Unvieling" dinner in Chicago!

 

I took my laptop so I could work and I recieved a message from my Sandals rep making sure I was still coming. I replied that we were almost there and she emailed back "Great-I assigned you to Butches table". I laughed and laughed- yeah right like I would be sitting at the table with Butch Stewart- owner and creator of Sandals, Beaches and Royal Plantation resorts!

 

We get there and my rep runs up and says hurry up you need to get seated- they're getting ready to start. as she's bringing me to my seat I realize we are front and center and it starts to dawn on me.....ummmm I really might be sitting at the table with Butch Stewart. Now I am getting nervous- the whole bit- like how do you make small talk with Butch Stewart? Will I end up with spinach in my teeth? Knocking wine into his lap? At this point I'm thinking- this may not be such a great idea that my DSM had- I'm going to string her up if I survive this! ( I am really really shy!!)

 

Then my Sandals rep starts talking about we just need you to talk afew minutes about groups- I do one of those cartoon double takes- say WHAT!!! Yeah she says- just stand up and speak for about two minutes about groups- you'll be great. When they bring you the mic just sit in your seat and say a couple of things, no problem!

 

A little background- I DO NOT SPEAK IN PUBLIC! As a kid I wouldn't even raise my hand in school to ask to use the bathroom ( I know TMI !) At any rate I am now in a full blown panic- sweaty palms, rolling stomache the works. They serve this amazing dinner and I am writing notes- can't eat a bite! Yup butch stewart is all of two seats away from me, the director of St. Lucia tourism is next to me, Mr. Chastenet and I am suppose to make this little speech in front of at least 800 travel agents.

 

My turn comes, they hand me the mic and the MC makes me stand up! I thought I was going to die. I shook, my voice shook, I couldn't read my notes as they were on the table and I am now standing! I made it through, used something from Mr. Chastenets speech that got both his and Mr. Stewarts attention and afterward they both said that I did a good job! It was a sympathy "good job" but I'll take it! Adam Stewart also came up and congratulated me!

 

So there you have it - my dinner with Butch stewart and my first public speaking engagement!

[ikupoo]

I'm sure you did great. In the public speaking class that I took, the teacher videotaped all of us talking, and we all sounded much better than we'd thought!

[syl1115]

Awwww. I'm sure you did absolutely great. We are often our own worst critics.

[kaiko]

So Jennifer, since you were blindsided, did you get to take in any of the unveiling details? I would have been too nervous to concentrate.

[Jennifer Davis]

Wow! You go girl! What an incredible couple of weeks you've had!

[JenniferSS]

Thanks you guys! It was definately an experience and after all is said and done I'm glad I did it, no matter how it turned out. Now I know that A) I really won't pass out and die like I always thought and unfortunately no matter how hard you wish for a big hole to open up and swallow you- it won't happen!

 

It was also really nice that my husband was there for it, he was so sweet and supportive it really helped! And the look of pride on his face really made all the terror worth it!

 

Kaiko- ummmm I caught most of what was said as I had to be polite, especially because Mr Stewart was right there and being front and center well it just would have been rude to not be paying attention. It's the retention part that was a little difficult! as I felt like this

[JaimeLynne]

Awe, congrats Jennifer! I totally know what you mean about public speaking - I was an "A" student in HS but would literally refuse to do public speaking projects out of sheer terror! You should be proud of yourself for going through with it though!

 

I just found out that a client of ours knows Butch. It's actually a dream of mine to meet his daughter, Jaime Stewart. I find her very inspiring - not to mention a weird coincidence that she heads up Royal Plantation and we not only have the same first name but we spell it the same and Stewart was my Mother's maiden name... Had no idea when I was booking our HM! Pretty cool huh?

[Tara]

Congrats! It's great when you are able to face your fear head on like that. I'm sure you were wonderful!