Storyteller Motivates Workers

The re-opening of Cap Juluca Resort and Spa for the 2004/2005 tourism season was marked by an appreciation awards presentation ceremony for workers in its various departments and a motivational address by storyteller, Paul Keens-Douglas.

The ceremony was chaired by Director of Human Resources, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks. It was preceded by the hotel’s first annual regatta in which the competing teams sailed on True North and Stars and Stripes, two yachts based in St. Maarten.

Director of Tourism, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, said the previous tourism season had been a successful year for the hotel with occupancy levels in the high 90s and to date there was 86 percent occupancy for November. In addition, acknowledgements by various travel magazines, the new initiatives with the Caribbean Card Corporation and the tremendous exposure, through Cap Juluca, that the NBC Today Show was bringing to Anguilla, had contributed to the hotel’s success.

“The credit goes to all of you,” she told the employees. “The visitors choose Cap Juluca because it is a beautiful place, because of its fabulous dining… and the high level of service you provide. Together, all of these elements and more comprise the Cap Juluca experience.” She thanked the management and staff for their contribution to the tourism industry and for being a partner with the Tourist Board in its work.

Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, Mimi Gratton, commended the hotel for its fine record. She was delighted to be at the function “just days before the start of what promises to be an unprecedented tourism season for Anguilla and another bench-mark year for Cap Juluca.”

She described the upcoming NBC Today Show Destination Wedding at Cap Juluca “as an opportunity that we in the tourism marketing game could have never hoped to receive.” She added: “This event brings along with it untold millions of dollars of exposure for Anguilla and our tourism industry. The magic of Cap Juluca made it happen, but it is up to all of us to showcase our island for the entire world to see.”

Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Osbourne Fleming, told the workers that they were the reason for the hotel’s success. “If you were not here as partners in industry and company, Cap Juluca would not enjoy the success it has today,” he stated. He informed them that he, Robin and Sue Ricketts and Franklin Connor travelled from Anguilla to meet Mr. Hickcox and his wife and started the idea of Cap Juluca.

Mr. Fleming noted that the Anguilla Government had been very fortunate over the years because not many complaints had been received from workers at Cap Juluca. He hoped that things had been going well, but observed that such a large institution was not without its problems. “We expect that management and staff will continue to work together,” he continued. “Staff must always have respect for management and management must always have respect for staff. It is partnership…If you have a problem with treatment in this institution do not be afraid to express to management what your concerns are. You cannot be fired for that. I am not saying anything is happening, but when you have an institution of this kind with so many people, there are some times when things can happen.”

The Chief Minister added that the 2004/2005 season would be a very good year for Anguilla. He wished the hotel every success, saying such success would benefit the entire society. “The Ministers of Government would like for me to tell you that part of the money that we run the country with comes because of you and that’s why we appreciate you so much,” he added.

General Manager, Eustace Guishard, assured the workers that they were part of the hotel and that their jobs were secured as long as they would continue to work well and provide the top service they were delivering. He urged them to practice team work and pledged to maintain Anguillians in key positions in the hotel.

Mr. Guishard gave some of the contributions from the hotel to the Government as follows: Occupancy Tax: 1.5 million US dollars; Land Lease: US$790,000; Customs Duties: US$400,000; Community donations: US$35,000; total payroll including service charge: US$8.2 million (with 98 percent staying on the island; Contributions to the tourism dollar-a-day fundraising programme: US$39,000; marketing expenditure: US$1.3 million dollars, totaling US$12.9 million.

He described it as being “a national asset.” He added: “It is valuable, it is priceless and we have to do every single thing within our power to protect it and make it continue to shine brighter.”

Paul Keens-Douglas, who for the second conservative year was the guest speaker at the opening and appreciation awards ceremony, said the workers were part of the continuing story of Cap Juluca and it was something for them to be proud about.

The storyteller, using wit and humour, throughout his address, not only sent peels of laughter among the workers, but was able to get across his message to them in a most effective manner.

“Being world class is about having a vision,” he told them in summary. “It is about maintaining qualities that would serve you at every level of development be it at home, on the job or in the world outside. It is about setting high standards for yourself and not compromising the quality of product or service. It is about understanding that it is a fast-changing world out there and we all have to keep up with those changes or get left behind…You at Cap Juluca have shown that size has nothing to do with world class. World class is having faith in yourself and be willing to do what it takes.”

Many workers drawn from every department of the hotel were presented with appreciation awards. Cash prizes and certificates were given to a number of employees for outstanding performance. The Employee of the Year Award went to Beach Attendant Carol Richardson and the Supervisor of the Year Award was won by Jerome Vanterpool. Each of them received a number of gifts including US$2,000, a free stay at the hotel and a Caribbean trip.

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