Hard work, dedication and commitment do pay off as the three Outstanding Employees of the Year of the Maho Group can attest. Cook Julani Andrew, Front Desk Agent Clarissa "Vicky" David and Casino Dealer Debbie Richardson each drove away with a brand new Hyundai i10 car on Wednesday evening following the annual staff party at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino.
The three nominees were selected from among the 800 employees of the Maho Group, with the winners announced at the annual staff party on Wednesday, December 18th.
Julani came to Sonesta Maho as part of a second chance programme. He was given the opportunity to overcome his hurdles and turn them into successes and confidence. With hard work and continued dedication, he has worked in all of Sonesta Maho’s restaurants as a sous chef. His approach to both his job and life show that he has the potential to become a manager in the future. He is extremely reliable and has never taken a personal or sick day. Julani is an outstanding example for other young people, and showcases the power of commitment and striving to achieve a better life for themselves and family.
Clarissa never forgets a name, a trait returning and new guests really appreciate. As a front desk agent, Clarissa is the perfect person to greet guests upon check-in and wish them safe travels during check out. Her warm smile and accommodating personality immediately make guests feel at home. She always puts her best foot forward and takes her role as a resort ambassador seriously. With new changes at the resort, Clarissa fully embraced them while also encouraging others to do the same. Adapting with the resort standards with a flawless execution, Clarissa is a dedicated, loyal employee, ensuring guests have an optimum experience at Sonesta Great Bay.
Debbie is one of the best-known Casino dealers, and stands out with her outstanding work performance and dedication. She goes above and beyond to provide an exceptional experience for clients, making players feel comfortable at the tables while also enjoying their playing time and conversations with Debbie. She is solely responsible for the weekly Blackjack tournament, which is often the first exposure players have to both the casino and the game of Blackjack. Her performance is always consistent and strong, making her a great role model for all employees. Debbie’s dedication is further exemplified by her perfect attendance record and has not missed a day of work in the last year.
The three Outstanding Employees of the Year were nominated by their immediate supervisors and general manager of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort Casino and Spa, and Casino Royale in Maho. The nominees were not aware of their selection and the winners were not even made known to the people nominated until the big reveal at the staff party.
The three winners were chosen from a field of 11 nominees. The motivation for their nominations were reviewed by a panel of independent judges who also had follow-up discussions with their managers.
Judges for Sonesta Great Bay were WIFOL President Theophilus Thompson, Hospitality Industry Consultant Keith D. Franca and Business Consultant Michael J. Ferrier. Those for Sonesta Maho and Casino Royale were WICSU-PSU Vice President Aurillio Baly, Franca and Ferrier.
Ferrier as representatives of the judges said: "It is a pity that only one person of each can win, as we were (and still are) all very much impressed with what we read and heard about the abilities, talents, professionalism and passion of each and every one of the 11 nominees."
The task of selecting the three Employees of the Year was not an easy one, Ferrier said. "It was certainly not an easy task. The fact that the allocated two hours were overrun by an hour and a half, is a clear indication of the complexity of the assignment and the seriousness with which we treated it."
The Maho Group is proud of all of its employees who are the heart and soul of the resorts and casinos. The awarding of cars this year was a move by the group to greatly reward its best people for their continued commitment to the exceeding the expectation of all guests.
"All of our winners understand the word ‘team’ as do all of the employees of The Maho Group family. We are honored to have such a wonderful team who consistently portray our brand as a leader here in St. Maarten and the Caribbean. I thank them very much for this and their commitment to exceeding our guest expectations," said The Maho Group’s President + CEO Saro Spadaro.
Spadaro also thanked the judges for their dedication to the difficult task of choosing the winners.
Image 1:
Saro Spadaro – President and CEO Maho Group, Ted Richardson – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Debbie Richardson – Winner Casino Royale, Karl Bourne – General Manager Sonesta Great Bay, Julani Andrew – Winner Sonesta Maho, Cornelius de Weever – Minister of Health Care, Social Development and Labor, Sarah Wescot Williams – Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Clarissa "Vicky" David – Winner Sonesta Great Bay, Armando Pizzuti – Vice President of Hotel Operations Maho Group
Image 2:
The 3 winners left to right: Julani Andrew – Sonesta Maho, Debbie Richardson – Casino Royale, Clarissa "Vicky" David – Sonesta Great Bay