Hundreds of hopefuls showed up for the final day of a 4-day job fair aimed at filling 600 posts at Sandals Royal Bahamian. The first two days of the job fair were reserved for former staff members who were terminated and received all benefits and pay in accordance with legal requirements when the hotel closed for more than two months for extensive repairs that could not be completed with guests or staff on premises. (Photo by Donald Knowles)
More than 900 people turned out armed with resumes, smiles and hope during a four-day job fair aimed at filling 600 posts at Sandals Royal Bahamian.
“We were very pleased with the turn-out,” said Sandals Resorts International Director of Corporate Services Jeremy Jones. “We did see that there were more applicants the last two days than the first two which were reserved for former team members.”
The job fair, held at Christ the King Anglican Church Hall, Ridgeland, was held to pool the team that will be ready to deliver on the guests’ standards when the refurbished resort re-opens in mid-October. Earlier this month, in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement, Sandals Resorts advised said it had no choice but to terminate all existing staff members, pay them off fully and start all over again. Of the 592 who were terminated and invited to apply, all but 7 have collected cheques ranging from nearly $1,000 to more than $34,000 depending on length and level of service.
Sandals management advised team members that the resort would re-open with the same number of Bahamians with which it closed. Successful applicants will receive a letter inviting them to participate in the next steps, which includes screening and four weeks of intensive training to follow.
On August 25, while applicants were completing forms, listening to group talks and engaging in individual interviews in the middle of the island, construction and renovations were well underway. From heavy equipment removing dated pool decking, leaking pools being repaired, ballrooms undergoing refurbishments, and rooms being painted to 49 beach villas undergoing upgrades and thousands of linear feet of plumbing pipes being completely replaced, the resort is anticipated to unveil a renewed look and feel.
“You cannot have a hotel guest who has been dreaming of his or her vacation for months, maybe longer, and arrive to discover that there is full on construction being conducted. No guests would appreciate a backhoe, an excavator and jackhammers at work while they are trying to enjoy their hard earned vacation. This is not the experience that we advertise to our guest nor are we willing to compromise on our promise,” said Jones.
“Our chairman has great expectations for this resort and we are excited about the changes that will bring this beachfront jewel up to a higher level. We are hoping for our best season ever.”
“We hire attitude and teach skills,” say Sandals execs, as interviews were being conducted.
Sandals Royal Bahamian job hopefuls complete application forms under a temporary tent before going inside for group talks and individual interviews at Christ the King Anglican Church Hall Thursday. Some 600 jobs will be filled with successful team members undergoing four weeks of intensive training prior to the resort’s re-opening in mid-October once the extensive repairs on the are completed. (Photo by Donald Knowles)
By Lynette Lockhart
Diane Phillips & Associates
