Sandals, Chukka top tourism service awards
Published:Monday | June 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Sandals Resorts International and Chukka Caribbean Adventures emerged champions at the third Tourism Service Excellence Programme (TSEP) awards at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Saturday night.
Sandals' regional public relations manager, Lyndsay Isaacs, copped the coveted National Champion (individual), while Chukka received top honours as National Champion (organisation). Sandals walked away with a total of four awards, two individuals and two resort areas, as well as overall national.
The two champions outpaced a field of 14 individuals and 16 organisations, representing de crème de la crème of the local tourism sector.
The other winners of the evening included: Spanish Court Hotel, Mystic Mountain and Geejam, with Andrew Gilling, Jamaica Pegasus; Julian Suckoo, Sandals Whitehouse; Franklyn Wallace, Couples Negril; and Laurel Scarlett-France of the Ritz, sharing the spotlight.
"The TSEP embodies the very essence of the service culture that distinguishes and separate us in the marketplace," stated an elated Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.
"It is true to say that Jamaicans are driven by a deeper value and sense of what the industry means," said Bartlett, adding that the country's enviable reputation of having the highest repeat business in the Caribbean now stands at 42 per cent.
"It's the high-touch service that you bring into the heart of the customer that makes the customer feel an affinity to you," he urged.
commitment to service
New president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Evelyn Smith, recognised the finalists for what she described as their commitment to service excellence, "This is integral to the success of our industry and our country".
She acknowledged that Jamaica's heralded natural beauty, creative handmade structures and rich cultural heritage would be nothing without its people, who have always remained centre stage in the delivery of the tourism product.
"Their sincere love of people, magnetic charm, and warm hospitality has consistently ensured the survival and success of our industry through thick and thin. They have warmed and won the hearts of hundreds of thousands of our repeat guests, who make return trips to our shores year after year."
The evening's big winner, Lyndsay Isaacs, received a trophy, J$175,000 cash, a Caribbean vacation for two to Antigua, Barbados and St Maarten, inclusive of first-class travel on Caribbean Airlines and all-inclusive accommodations, tours and ground transportation.
Chukka received a trophy, a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line seven-day Caribbean cruise for two, an all-inclusive weekend for the organisation's Employee of the Year and a guest, and two Team Jamaica Programme Scholarships for their employees.
"The organisations and individuals who have emerged winners have demonstrated world-class performance in service, so much so that the high service standard made it difficult for the judges to select the ultimate winners," said chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company, Robert Russell.