SANDALS GRANDE ANTIGUA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE

Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa recently awarded sixteen outstanding team members for their stellar achievements in 2024 at their Annual Prestige Awards.

Held under the theme “Golden Sands of Time – A celebration of Hospitality Excellence”, this year’s awards ceremony placed focus on the rich history and legacy of the Sandals brand since its arrival in Antigua thirty-three years ago.  

With sixteen highly coveted award categories team members from across the resort’s departments walked away with monetary prizes, electronic appliances, gadgets and complimentary stays at Sandals and Beaches resorts.

The highly sought-after Diamond Team Member of the Year Award went to Karen GrenadoWong from the butler elite department, while Jordain Pemberton from entertainment snagged the Platinum Team Member of the Year title.

The loyalty and travel department were crowned Department of the Year (A-Team Award), and Latoya Silvera, purchasing manager, earned the title of Manager of the Year (MVP Award).

Other notable winners included Red Lane Spa’s Kayan Clayton (Founder’s Circle Award), kitchen’s Andre Scott (Supervisor of the Year), weddings and romance Luana Johnson (People’s Choice Award), housekeeping’s Kem Browne (General Manager’s Award), engineering and maintenance Richardo Hughes (Hotel Manager’s Award), and Dion Blair (Heart of the House Award).

Brenton Bristol of the landscaping department was recognized as the Sandals Earth Guardian with Sandy Ramsaran from loyalty and travel receiving the Circle of Joy award.

From the restaurant department Shanique Keddo was named Legendary Team Member of the Year while Kellyn Benjamin was celebrated as the Mover and Shaker (Most Improved).

Dillon Brown from the loyalty and travel department was named Money Maker of the Year while Dave Anthony of the general stores department copped the Standing Ovation Award.

Additionally, Tamika Hatchett from the restaurant department was honored with the Sandals Foundation Sentinel (Community Spirit Award) and Zora Roberts from Island Routes was acknowledged as the Island Routes Ambassador of the Year.

Reflecting on her win as the team member of the year for 2024, Karen said, “I just want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for each and every one of you. Your love, support and kindness mean the world to me, and I am truly blessed to have such incredible people in my life. To my family, thank you for always being my foundation, your unwavering support, guidance, and unconditional love have shaped me into the person I am today. I am beyond grateful for the memories we’ve created and the bond we share.”

General Manager David Latchimy lauded the team’s achievements, stating, “like golden sands of time, our resort has matured, consistently delivering exceptional guest experiences, fostering growth and making significant investments in our community.” He emphasized the resort’s resilience in facing challenges and its commitment to providing the best possible work experience for its team members.

“As we look towards the grand opportunities that lie ahead, our legacy is being shaped by the continuous efforts of our team members with new Sandals and Beaches resorts on the horizon. Our Antigua team must be, and will be, ready to transition into leadership roles and support the onboarding process of these exciting new investments in our Caribbean region as we focus our efforts on regional resort exposure and SCU’s Diploma in Hospitality Leadership programme for our high-performing team leaders.”

Adding to the fanfare of the festive evening was an empowering charge from media veteran Mikel Brann-Challenger who encouraged nominees to put their best foot forward even when no one is watching and to stay focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Electrifying performances by Antiguan rising stars Nikki Nooks, Jxrdan and Thea added further dimension to the festive evening, but it was the highly anticipated manager’s dance performance that brought the house down.

Ercil Charles Jr., deputy director of news and current affairs at ABS, and Meria Govia, recently promoted club sandals manager at Sandals Grande Antigua, served as hosts, adding their dynamic presence to the unforgettable celebration.

The stage is now set for another year of excellence and anticipation for the 2025 awards.