It was a night that the bright light shone on the hospitality champions of Sandals Halcyon when it honoured its outstanding team members at the annual prestige awards to much fanfare, laughter and celebration. Kenny Rogers’ version of the pop song “Through The Years” provided the Halcyon management team a platform to salute their customer service stars with their own remake. “Through the years we couldn’t do without you,” a Karaoke like Halcyon Choir sang.
A moving moment at the podium by General Manager Lennox Dupal was amongst the few speeches for the evening. By Dupal’s own admission it was one of the most trying years for the 169-room resort due to external forces like a global recession and hurricane Thomas, which ravaged St Lucia last year. “But you have shown great courage resilience and fortitude once again to ensure that Sandals Halcyon prevailed over yet another challenging time. That’s why you are here today at the prestige awards, that’s why our guests come back each year, because of you,” encourages Dupal.
Then came the turn of feature speaker Ryan Matthew who is the company’s Regional Training Manager in the Eastern Caribbean. In a motivating speech, Matthew inspired employees, Managers and special invited guests to see themselves as Giants rather than grasshoppers to the many challenges that may confront them at the workplace.
“In every great challenge you will find people who see themselves as helpless grasshoppers whilst some will see themselves as victorious giants. The grasshopper mentality tells you I can’t do this, it’s too hard and this challenge before me is too difficult. Employees with this mindset are masters of complaining and experts at allowing challenges on the workplace to defeat and manage them,” Matthew told the gala dinner affair.
To much applause he continued, “but there are employees, who are of a different kind, team members that see themselves as overcomers. Nothing at work is impossible for the overcomer to do. There is no such word as crisis in his vocabulary because he
or she is too busy
renaming them as opportunities. When setbacks on the job occur, an overcomer looks for the opportunity to improve, to learn and to conquer.”
The main Awards went to Shatal Lionel for Ultimate Team member of the year, whilst Garfield Mongroo- was the Runner Up Team member of the Year. Everton Hippolyte- Most Guest Nominated for the Year and Aaron Mederick- Best Smile for Courtesy award. Claudia St Luce copped the Most Improved and the Financial Controllers awards went to Jonas Antoine with Gibson Gabriel being adjudged the Heart of the House prize. Julian St Edward was the recipient of the GM’s Award and Erica James was Sandals Foundation Community Spirit winner. Most environmentally aware team member was declared Symbert Loctor whilst Venessa Dantzie prevailed Supervisor of the Year. Richmond Mason is the Manager of the Year and Accounts ran away with the Department of the Year Award.
