The Tribune

Several Bahamians are poised to play key roles as Sandals Resorts International’s next tier of senior managers.

Through a structured and streamlined leadership development plan under the company’s corporate university, top performing team members are placed on special programmes and initiatives, and groomed on a path for future leadership.

Among those making a mark in this select programme is former Sandals Royal Bahamian hotel manager, Kressville Ritchie, who has been on an extensive exposure course in Jamaica, with successful roles at the top of family-based resort, Beaches Negril, as well as Sandals Negril.

Speaking with Mr Ritchie as he geared up for a new assignment, he said “this exposure to note best practices for the tourism industry, not only for Sandals but for the Caribbean on a whole, has been a tremendous learning opportunity.

“I look forward to the next step in gathering further experience across the region, noting the different ways in which we successfully operate as the tourism mecca of the world, with the aim that this knowledge will be put to good use when I return to Bahamas.”

Delino Moss, through Sandals’ Management Trainee Programme, has excelled as a top performer among his group, successfully completing the intensive two-year programme. He has recently taken up his appointment as operations manager at Beaches Ocho Rios in Jamaica, having gained valuable exposure in every area of hotel operations, including food and beverage, human resources and training, accounting, rooms division, loss prevention and security and sales whilst on assignment in Bahamas and Jamaica.

Yet another Bahamian making his mark among the management team of Sandals Resorts is the Sandals Royal Bahamian’s former photoshop manager, Shawn Thompson.

Having excelled in his position in the Bahamas, Mr Thompson has been training in the post of acting operations manager while he hones his leadership skills on assignment at Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay in Jamaica.

\When Donathan Johnson, joined Sandals in 2000 as a member of the WaterSports team, he had dreams of making his mark within the company. Steadily focusing on his dream and making successive progress to currently hold the post of environment health and safety manager, Mr Johnson is again primed to join the succession planning programme in preparation for future leadership posts.

Wayne Cummings, Sandals’ director of business processes and administration, said: “As a growing Caribbean brand, Sandals Resorts is very proud of the thousands of talented Caribbean nationals working across the chain.

“The selection process for the varying levels of management development programmes, while rigorous, is rewarded by a strong pool of talent from which to choose, that makes the future for the expansion of our company, a bright and exciting one”.

The Sandals succession planning strategy programme is currently on yet another recruitment drive as it has recently advertised for a new cohort of management trainees.

Candidates considering the Management Trainee Programme are required to be at least 21 years old, in possession of a first degree or two-three years hospitality experience, be service-driven with strong communication and organisational skills.