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Press Release: Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association
October 20, 2004
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS -- Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association Members are committed to human resource
development in the Turks and Caicos Islands and over the last year have increased employee incentive, training
and reward activities on an unprecedented scale, according to a recent email survey conducted by the Association.
Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association Director Caesar Campbell explains “Employee of the Month and incentive
schemes are on the increase and of course TCHTA and its members remain highly committed to providing training and
educational opportunities for staff. The human resource development initiatives that are taking place in more hotels
and in dive operations in the TCI demonstrate an increased investment in people by our TCHTA Members. Through this
investment we are seeing more Turks and Caicos Islanders pursuing careers in tourism and gaining senior positions”
The TCHTA has established a scholarship program in partnership with the Turks and Caicos Islands community college,
has conducted workshops on customer care, disasters and other topics for tourism personnel over the last years
and this year supported two students attending the Wider Caribbean Environmental Youth Program, an eight day learning
experience presented at the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
For the past three years, the TCHTA has promoted this Environmental Programme and outstanding participants of the
DECR’s Junior Park Warden Programmes have been chosen to attend. In 2004 Deandra Landry and Deandra Garland joined
students from across the Caribbean exchanging ideas and learning about the environment.
The survey highlighted a wide range of Employee Reward Schemes:
At Alexandra Resort and Spa, good qualities including punctuality, positive guest comments and good attitude are
some of the criteria used by management to select Employee of the Month. Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa
also reward Employee of the Month accolades to personnel who “go the extra mile”. The Beaches scheme has expanded
over recent years and now includes twelve categories including “Most Environmentally Friendly”, “Iron Man / Woman”
and the “Golden Touch” Employee Awards.
Grace Bay Club and Ocean Club Resorts have also adopted employee of the month schemes. However in the case of these
hotels, either colleagues (Grace Bay Club) or guests (Ocean Club Resorts) elect the employee of the month.
At the Sands at Grace Bay, staff enjoy a monthly employee recognition party where they are congratulated for work
and given a range of prizes. Awards are given for outstanding attention to safety, housekeeping, service and spirit.
In addition a raffle prize is awarded during the party to add to the celebrations.
At Provo Turtle Divers staff are rewarded for hard work and given performance related pay increases as well as
acknowledgement for their efforts. Provo Turtle Divers Manager Melinda Volkert explains “We strongly encourage
a Team Environment in our work force – everyone is a piece of the puzzle and the harder they work the more we reward.”
President of the TCHTA Gary Greenwood described the programs “as a clear indication that TCHTA members realize
that performance incentives and acknowledgement of performance is a key to success.”
In addition to rewarding the efforts of staff, the survey also requested information on training and educational
programs.
Beaches Turks and Caicos believe in training and team development as according to management it results in “knowledgeable,
motivated and skilled team members”. Personnel are encouraged to cross train in other departments so that they
can gain experience for future job opportunities and gain better understanding of the workings of the resort. To
expand the training further, Beaches Turks and Caicos selects team members from each section to spend two or three
weeks in sister properties to gain exposure to other operations. According to information received the resort could
have “between 14-15 persons on this exchange program at any one time.”
Grace Bay Club has an annual program where three staff attend courses at the Cornell Hotel Management school in
New York. This is preceded by a stay in a five star hotel in New York city and often another five star stay after
the course. The staff gain instruction from a world-class hospitality university as well as get a first hand view
of the way in which other hotels work. In 2004, Grace Bay added to the experience by collecting the staff at the
airport in a limousine for a ride around New York. Owner of Grace Bay Club Mark Durliat adds “This type of attention
to staff generates loyalty and motivation.”
The Palms has established training programs in advance of its opening in January 2005 which include individual
coaching, cross training, in-house education, training, exchange programs and external education programs. The
Palms management explains “as the first corporation to place headquarters in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the
executive leadership of The Palms is committed to recruiting and placing Belongers into middle management positions
whenever possible”. All supervisory and middle managers will receive training that will enhance professional development
and provide growth opportunities beyond the scope of their position, including knowledge of the overall operation
of the resort and the strategic business objectives of the company. The goal is ultimately to develop highly trained
individuals who possess skills and knowledge that allow for promotion to higher levels of management, hopefully
within the organization, but certainly transferable to other companies and/or industries.
Promotions
Thanks to such investment in human resources being made by TCHTA Members, many Belongers are gaining promotions
to more senior positions in the industry. Examples include Keva Garland–Forbes promoted from Entertainment Supervisor
to Public Relations Coordinator; Mrs Nadia Fulford was promoted from Accounts Supervisor to Assistant Financial
Controller and Mr Benjamin Walkin who was promoted from Ken-Fix-It to Plant Operator at Beaches Turks and Caicos
Resort and Spa; at Ocean Club Resorts Willencia Mills was promoted to Operations Manager at Ocean Club, Nathaniel
Rigby was nominated to Operations Manager at Ocean Club West ensuring that all but 4 of Ocean Club Resorts Senior
and Middle Management positions are filled by Turks and Caicos Islanders.
The TCHTA was established in 1994 and now boasts a membership of 70 including hotel members and allied members
from tourism organizations across the country. The TCHTA is a member of the Caribbean Hotel Association.
The Turks and Caicos Islands is a chain of more than 40 islands, only 8 of which are inhabited. The Islands which
have won awards for their beauty, pristine environment and elegant hotels, enjoy excellent air service, with non-stop
flights from New York, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadephia, Miami, Toronto and London. For information on the
Turks and Caicos Islands visit www.turksandcaicostourism.com. For information on the Turks and Caicos Hotel and
Tourism Association visit www.tchta.com