A king is sashed: Gregory Hall, Wyndham Rose Hall's 'Employee of the Year', is being attended to hand and foot by Carmelita Olverson, human resources director (left) and the hotel's general manager, Dermot Connelly.
WESTERN BUREAU:
GOING TO a Wyndham Rose Hall staff award ceremony is like attending the Oscars, the only difference is the colour of the carpet. The big screens, gorgeous prizes, dazzling gowns and top class production are in sync.
The event has garnered such a reputation that this time around an uninvited blackbird found its way within the midst of the ceremony. At times it stood on the microphone, other times centre stage, but it meant that it too had to be mentioned on the Gleaners' social pages.
Blackbird aside, Wyndham Rose Hall's Human Resources Department produced a star-studded 14th Anniversary event, paying tribute to its staff who had toiled hard for the past year, whilst making exemplary contribution to lives of the thousands of visitors that opened its doors.
Through its theme, 'A Winding Round to Hospitality,' the 480-rooms hotel lavished some 70 employees with gifts valued at over $1.5 million.
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Ace bartender Gregory Hall, was crowned 'Employee of the Year 2003,' taking home over $260,000 in prizes from the kitty.
The nine-year stalwart, received two airline tickets to Chicago, courtesy of Apple Vacations; seven nights stay at Wyndham Chicago, $80,000 cash, a weekend for two at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, a microwave, Oster Juicer and a plaque.
"I never had the slightest idea, I would have won," said a humble Gregory. "There were so many great workers in the running; any one of us could have won."
Although not a stranger to receiving awards at the resort, having won the 'Employee of the Month,' three times before, he said this award was like a dream come true, "It's one of the greatest feelings."
Zerica Lawrence, housekeeping manager, who was literally mobbed by her overjoyed staff when it was announced she was 'Manager of the Year,' was also one of the big winners of the evening.
MOST IMPROVED MANAGER
The 'Most Improved Manager of the Year', Reinford Bernard, was described as a leader whose creativity and talent is second to none, a manager who is a team player, one who uses strategies to increase revenues, exemplifying the Wyndham Way.
Looking quite sharp and real debonair, Leonard Jones took home the 'Supervisor of the Year' award.
Before the announcement of the top recipients, the audience was taken to a higher level by the classy, sexy and talented five piece group, 'To-Isis'. Performing Dennis Brown's Love and Hate, followed by the a cappella version of Turn Me On, 'To-Isis' cemented the spectacular evening with the song, Strength of a Woman.
Two and a half hours after the Wyndham Oscars had started, the beautiful and refreshing voice of Cabaret Queen, Karen Smith was heard serenading top employee Gregory Hall, first runner-up Shelly-Ann Rochester and second runner-up, Lionel Allen, signalling the end to a fabulous evening.
