Sandals Regional Manager Grateful for Recognition, Says it Belongs to All Who Have Assisted Her Journey
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; July 17, 2026
By: Okoye Henry
It was a surreal moment for Lyndsay Isaacs from St. Ann as she walked onto the stage at King’s House on July 2, to receive the prestigious 2026 Governor-General’s Achievement Award (GGAA).
As the Regional Public Relations Manager for Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Mrs. Isaacs is no stranger to the spotlight, but this honour was deeply personal.
(Regional Public Relations Manager at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, Lyndsay Isaacs, shares a moment with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen after receiving the 2026 St. Ann Governor-General’s Achievement Award at King’s House on July 2.)
She has spent more than two decades quietly transforming lives across Jamaica, and the award was a validation of a noble lifestyle driven entirely by the heart.
“I feel excited, very proud. It’s pretty much like being rewarded for something that you think is right, or something that you have been doing as a part of your DNA,” she stated.
For Mrs. Isaacs, the award is not about titles or public recognition; instead, it is about the lasting impression left on the lives of others.
“What is most important is creating lasting impact. I don’t want to be remembered because of the position I hold. I want to be remembered because of how I made someone feel,” she said.
That philosophy has guided her throughout her career in tourism and has seen her touch countless lives, whether by mentoring scholarship recipients, supporting struggling families, feeding the needy, or simply offering encouragement when someone needs it most.
Tourism was never part of Mr. Isaacs’ original career plan. Fresh out of Mt. Alvernia High School, St James, she dreamt of becoming a doctor and knew little about Jamaica’s tourism industry.
She applied to Sandals shortly after graduation, seeing it as an opportunity to earn an income before pursuing other ambitions. Her public spiritedness and love to help people became known early to the Sandals management team, through her involvement in a project at Blossom Garden Children’s Home in Montego Bay.
Sandals’ assistance at the Home exceeded her expectations. “That was my turning point. I realised this company could truly change lives, and I wanted to be part of that,” Mrs Isaacs added.
The company supported her education by funding an associate degree at Hocking Technical College in Ohio, followed by a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Nova Southeastern University.
Mrs. Isaacs’ passion for community development grew alongside the Sandals Foundation, whose work focuses on education, community and the environment. Through the organisation, she led countless outreach initiatives such as supplying schools with resources and organising medical missions in remote communities across St. Ann and St. Mary.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Mrs. Isaacs has spent every Christmas for more than 20 years personally feeding vulnerable persons in her community. She prepared lunches and distributed them to homeless people across Ocho Rios, with the help of her children and other youngsters.
“I’ve never really prepared a meal for myself at Christmas. My children grew up knowing that Christmas morning meant cooking for other people first. We usually eat whatever is left afterwards,” she noted.
Much of her work involves assisting communities and groups such as teachers, for whom Sandals has put on Teachers’ Day events such as luncheons, beach parties, and even an Ocho Rios harbour cruise. A part of her job is also getting the media to report on the activities of Sandals in the community.
(Isaacs, left, on the job checking her list for a Teachers’ Cruise organized by Sandals Ochi in May)
For her, standing among fellow awardees during the Governor-General’s Achievement Awards ceremony was another humbling experience.
She is not new to awards. One of the most sought-after awards she has received was the prestigious Stewart’s Family Culture Award from Executive Chairman Adam Stewart in May 2024. She was only the third person to receive the award.
Although grateful for the recognition from the GG, Mrs. Isaacs insists the award belongs to everyone who has supported her journey, including her family, colleagues, the Sandals team and, above all, her faith.
“Sometimes all someone needs is an encouraging word, a hug or a simple act of kindness. So, be kind to everybody. What you like to receive, try to give it to others,” Mrs. Isaacs said.
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Okoye Henry wrote this for JIS. It was edited for publication by the North Coast Times.
