While some students are unaware that vocations such as teaching, computer science and medicine can yield a position for them in the hospitality industry, one Sandals executive confirmed that there are many more carer opportunities in the industry other than housekeeping, food and beverage and concierge.
Executive Assistant Manager at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa, Ali Bain while conducting a lecture for eleventh grade hospitality students at C.V. Bethel Senior High School on the all inclusive couples resort, explained that sometimes students are not mindful of the many potential careers that exist in a hotel. “There are many positions in the hospitality industry that are not as visible as the front of the house posts. “We need accountants to pay the bills, we need engineers to oversee the mechanical operations and we even need trainers to teach the team members what is expected and to ensure that the Sandals standard is maintained,” outlined Mr. Bain.
“So you see, there are so many opportunities under one roof.” Responding to one student who said she was aspiring to becoming a doctor, Mr. Bain noted that even that profession was at the resort. “If a guest becomes ill, we need the doctor to take care of her, or at least diagnose her condition.”
After explaining how the students could be prospective additions to the hospitality industry by way of their respective career ambitions, Mr. Bain went on to tell the students about Sandals resorts.
In 1981 when Gordon Butch Stewart bought a run-down hotel on a magnificent beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica, this move proved to be the catalyst for what is today an ever expanding chain of ultra luxurious all inclusive resorts of international fame.
Mr. Bain acknowledged that with twenty-one resorts in The Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Antigua and Cuba, Sandals has to distinguish itself in hospitality and service delivery. “Hospitality begins from the moment our guests step off their flight until the moment they depart. This means that everyone they encounter has to be able to accept the challenge that they can make a difference whether a visitor to our island decides to return.”
He further added that every Sandals team member is taught to reinforce their customer care and attention to details skills to help deliver premium service to guests on a consistent basis. He said therein lies the importance of the Sandals standard. “We cannot have a bartender giving exceptional service while the maid is giving mediocre service. It just does not make sense. Everyone is on the same team, so we all have to give our full support to ensure that we have a winning team.”
Mr. Bain said what makes Sandals different is it’s comprehensive and sustained human resources development program. Sandals organizational values are based on the Butch Stewart philosophy – ‘Give the guest more than he/she expects.’ “So if a guest expects an ordinary Caribbean vacation, we give them an extraordinary vacation. If a guest expects service with a smile, we give them friendly, courteous service accompanied by a smile. Anything less in unacceptable.”
Mr. Bain’s lecture was part of a seven-week hospitality session that Sandals is conducting a C.V. Bethel, its adopted school. Through the Ministry of Tourism and Bahamas Hotel Association’s H.O.T.E.L. (Hospitality Opportunities Through Experiential Learning) Program, hospitality students obtain a head start into their future. The program gives an insight into the exciting and rewarding aspects of the hospitality industry.
