Six things about Sir Royston Hopkin (top, center), the visionary behind Spice Island Beach Resort on Grenada:
1. He has led Spice Island Beach Resort to become one of only seven 5-diamond hotels in the entire Caribbean and fewer than 120 in the whole world. Translation: You could name a lot of great hotels that have not been quite great enough for this honor.
2. His mother, who cooked for a tiny guesthouse in the 1950s and '60s, was a pioneer in Caribbean fusion cuisine. The resort still serves dishes based upon her recipes.
3. Sir Royston is celebrating 30 years as owner-director of the resort, a small enclave that manages to offer a large variety of activities.
4. He and Lady Hopkin have raised their three children to maintain the family's high standards for hospitality; they're now managers at the resort. (From left: Ryan Hopkin, JanelleHopkin, Sir Royston, Lady Hopkin, and Nerissa.)
5. The reason for that "Sir" in front of his name: Queen Elizabeth II has knighted him for his achievements as a hotelier.
6. Sir Royston said something at lunch the other day that I didn't write down, so this quote may be a word or two off, but it's still worth repeating:
"If our guests don't cry when they have to leave Spice Island Beach Resort, then we have not succeeded."
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