Cap Juluca, now perhaps the most rejuvenated and attractive resort in the Caribbean, has launched its 21st year of operations and, in a presentation ceremony on Tuesday this week, long service and other awards were distributed to its deserving and proud employees.

acThe newly constructed Porch with ocean and sunset views

The ceremony took place at the beautifully-improved Pimms Restaurant area which connects with the even more seemingly attractive, yet casual, Pan-Asian Spice Restaurant. The event was chaired by Director of Human Resource Development, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, while General Manager, Gary Thulander, presented the awards to the employees, a number of them unable to attend the ceremony as they were on duty.

Original Julucans

“On Saturday, January 17, 2009, Cap Juluca became of age and we launched our 21st year of operations; and one day ago, to mark the 20th Anniversary, we honoured 25 of the original Julucans who were still with us at that time,” Dr. Fleming-Banks said as she proceeded with the ceremony as well as to announce this and all the other awards. “This ceremony is a double one. It’s the 21st Anniversary Celebration as well as our Annual Appreciation Awards which we normally hold during pre-opening.

5-Year Awardees

“We didn’t have those awards as 2008 was no ordinary year. It was a watershed year for us. With ownership under Mr. Aron, who acquired the property with his partners in April, we launched into a rejuvenated Cap Juluca. Hurricane Omar came with winds of destruction, but all the loyal and dedicated Juluca Omar heroes countered with renewed vigour and made the delayed opening on December 15 an even more miraculous and special occasion.”

10-Year Awardees

Dr. Fleming-Banks said the employees selected for awards were those with 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of service (along with salutations to those who served in the years between); those on the Guest Choice list; those listed for Perfect Attendance; those adjudged to be Departmental Stars and the two persons named Employee of the Year (Carol Richardson) and Supervisor of the Year (Monica Bryan who, in addition to trips and special prizes, received cash awards of US$2,000).

15-Year Awardees

General Manager, Gary Thulander, now just five months on the job, said he was proud to be part of Cap Juluca and was delighted with the accomplishments of Adam Aron and his two partners for improving the property at a cost of US$25 million. He praised the 377 employees whom he described as being “the heart and soul” of Cap Juluca providing super service not only in Anguilla but throughout the Caribbean.

Guest Choice Awardees (Photos courtesy Lloyd Gumbs These are not all of the Awarded Employees. The others were on duty)

Minister of Tourism, Victor Banks, congratulated Cap Juluca for having come a long way and was happy that, with the involvement of Government, the property owners and the employees, a win-win situation had been accomplished. “I feel we have achieved a great success in making the transition from one ownership to another,” he stated. “Twenty-one years is a milestone in the life of an individual. In terms of an institution, it is even more significant because it shows that over 21 years you have been able to achieve the level of service that has allowed you to maintain your standing as a company and, as far as I am concerned, an institution in Anguilla so you must congratulate yourself.”

Mr. Thulander with Carol Richardson

Special Assistant in the Ministry of Tourism, Donna Banks, joined in congratulating Cap Juluca and its employees. She said that Anguilla’s tourism image had been synonymous with the Cap Juluca brand and was delighted that the hotel had overcome its challenges. “I believe in the Cap Juluca brand and in what was achieved by the new owners in so very short a space of time,” she said.

Mr. Thulander and Monica Bryan

There was a considerable amount of interest in the award ceremony by the employees in particular. They are not only proud of the new and greatly improved image and service of Cap Juluca, but of their own high quality of work and dedication for which they have been awarded and for the appreciation shown to them by the owners and management of the exquisite resort.

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