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Off to Wine Country

Published:Friday | May 17, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Shereka Brown examines a glass of red wine. - Contributed Photos
Shereka Brown (second right) flanked by (from left) Deryk Meany, Secrets resident manager; Debra Taylor, Select Brands marketing manager; Andrew Desnoes, that company's managing director; Andrea Allie-Thorpe, human resources director; Luis Fitch, food and beverage director, and Emilio Huh, general manager, who pose after Brown was awarded an all-expense-paid seven-day trip to Chile to explore wine production.
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Shereka Brown has been unofficially crowned 'Miss Chile' by her co-workers, as plans are advanced to send her to the vineyards in that South American country.

The announcement came last week from the management of Secrets Resorts and Spas in Montego Bay that Brown, a special events agent at that resort, had astounded them by selling well in excess of 200 bottles of some of the finest wines to guests within just weeks.

In total, approximately 400 bottles of various wines distributed by Select Brands were sold to guests throughout the twin resort between February and April, and Brown managed to top the sales.

In recognition of her sterling performance, managing director of the 18-month-old Select Brands company, Andrew Desnoes, and the management of the three-year-old Secrets Resorts and Spas, combined their resources to award Brown with a seven-day all-expense-paid stay in Chile, where she will be exposed to the vineyards, picking grapes, wine brewery, among other aspects of wine production.

OVERJOYED

"When I was informed that I had sold the most bottles of wine and that I'd be rewarded with a trip to the vineyards in Chile, I was stunned and overjoyed," Brown told The Gleaner. "It was that 'OMG' moment," she quipped.

Andrea Allie-Thorpe is the human resources director at Secrets Resorts. She sometimes plays the role of motivating 'genie.'

"In the hospitality sector, you need something to continually drive motivation among your staff," she explained. She noted that the environment was extremely competitive and their employees were encouraged throughout the year to sell, whether it be rooms, dinners, or spa treatments.

"We believe that competition is very healthy for our environment and it brings out the best in every employee, and we are very proud of Shereka achieving this goal," Allie-Thorpe added.

And as Brown went about her business on the hotel grounds, congratulatory comments came from her colleagues, most of whom called out, 'Miss Chile' - a name that is now following her everywhere she goes.