Melia goes ALL IN for staff
CALLING THEIR hotel a quality entity “run solely by Jamaicans,” the management of the Melia Braco Village, Trelawny, went all out in honouring their own at the resort’s annual staff awards recently.
With a mixture of glitz, glamour and, yes, pageantry, the ceremony which kicked off at approximately 8:15 p.m. and which had Miss Jamaica Universe 2017 Davina Bennett as one of the main presenters, saw staff members walking away with a combined US$1,900 in cash prizes.
In addition, there were other gifts ranging from an allexpense paid overseas trip, inclusive of accommodation and airfare, to a three days/two nights all-expense paid-vacation getaway, as well as smart televisions, microwave, gift baskets and plaques.
When the dust settled, crowd favourite Carlton Walters from The Level Department copped the Most Guest Nominated as well as Associate of the Year awards; O’Shane Holmes from Entertainment won the General Manager’s Special Award; Coreen Chin from the Food and Beverage Department won Leader of the Year; Latoya Pusey from Human Resources for Supervisor of the Year.
Other winners were Davian Fuller from Maintenance for Smile and Courtesy; Chad Waugh from Entertainment for Most Improved; Denache Johnson from Spa for Revenue Earner; Christopher from Food and Beverage was given a special award, and Underwood Simmonds from Human Resources rounded off the proceedings by copping the Gem Awarded.
HARD WORK AND SERVICE
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, while lauding the awardees, said it was through their “hard work, dedication and exceptional service” why Melia continues to be “an award-winning hotel.
“Your commitment to service excellence has contributed significantly to Jamaica’s appeal as a premier tourist destination,” he noted.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you for being sterling tourism ambassadors. Service excellence is the bedrock of tourism success, and awards
programmes like these are a great way to say thank you to those who every day create exceptional experiences for our visitors.”
Bartlett also commended Melia for “recognising and encouraging” its team members with its annual awards programme, adding that “it is very important for everyone in tourism, from the most senior person to those who work at the most junior level, to understand that doing a great job adds value to the product that our visitors pay to enjoy.
“It is also what keeps visitors coming back again and again. It is no accident that Jamaica has a repeat visitor rate of over 40 per cent.”
Bennett, whose grand entrance as well as onstage presence drew loud applause from the audience, also praised the awardees for their achievements, noting that “I, too, am a strong supporter of programmes that reward excellence.
“It is good when hard work is both recognised and appreciated,” she noted. “It is only natural that persons will give of their best and will be motivated when they know they are being appreciated.”